Ethnic Conflict, Migration, and Globalization Presented By: Laura Witherspoon

Migration Globalization has weakened the concept of the Westphalian nation-state because the porosity of national borders allows for increased global flows of people and ideologies Globalization has weakened the concept of the Westphalian nation-state because the porosity of national borders allows for increased global flows of people and ideologies This increase in mobility of people across national borders and the globalization of the nation-state has led to deep ethnic, religious, and ideological conflict This increase in mobility of people across national borders and the globalization of the nation-state has led to deep ethnic, religious, and ideological conflict The changing role of the nation-state and its ability to exercise its sovereignty is central to the discussion on migration of peoples The changing role of the nation-state and its ability to exercise its sovereignty is central to the discussion on migration of peoples

Migration cont’d The inappropriate and arbitrary drawing of nation-state borders in the post-colonialism era has exacerbated the effects of globalization The inappropriate and arbitrary drawing of nation-state borders in the post-colonialism era has exacerbated the effects of globalization Poverty and economic inequality often cause migration Poverty and economic inequality often cause migration Other push and pull factors? Other push and pull factors? Increase in global awareness and culture clashes Increase in global awareness and culture clashes “There has undoubtedly been a great deal of population movement associated with globalization” (Ritzer) “There has undoubtedly been a great deal of population movement associated with globalization” (Ritzer) Despite more int’l openness from globalization, governments are reluctant to liberalize migration. Despite more int’l openness from globalization, governments are reluctant to liberalize migration.

Emigrational Conflict Labor migration is often perceived as threatening to a host country Labor migration is often perceived as threatening to a host country Causes fear and resentment of immigrants Causes fear and resentment of immigrants Suspicion and bitterness toward immigrants stimulates anti-immigration policies, as in the European Union Suspicion and bitterness toward immigrants stimulates anti-immigration policies, as in the European Union Greek ‘Golden Dawn’ Greek ‘Golden Dawn’ French ‘Front National’ French ‘Front National’ Racism and xenophobia Racism and xenophobia Psychological and physical divide between migrants and the host country population Psychological and physical divide between migrants and the host country population

Conflict and Globalization Question to think about: Has globalization increased, decreased, or stalled ethnic conflict? Question to think about: Has globalization increased, decreased, or stalled ethnic conflict? Ethnic conflict is not necessarily the result of ancient or inherent hatred between different ethnicities Ethnic conflict is not necessarily the result of ancient or inherent hatred between different ethnicities Ex: Hutus and Tutsis Ex: Hutus and Tutsis Some scholars claim ethnic conflict is less lethal in developed and economically open societies because economic globalization (which is beneficial to prosperity) discourages such violence Some scholars claim ethnic conflict is less lethal in developed and economically open societies because economic globalization (which is beneficial to prosperity) discourages such violence BUT what about the instability of multicultural societies unaccustomed to increasing immigration? BUT what about the instability of multicultural societies unaccustomed to increasing immigration?

Greek ‘Golden Dawn’ Golden Dawn is a neo-Nazi political party dedicated to protecting Greek heritage and culture from foreigners Golden Dawn is a neo-Nazi political party dedicated to protecting Greek heritage and culture from foreigners Seized upon economic instability from debt-crisis in 2009 to push anti-immigration agenda Seized upon economic instability from debt-crisis in 2009 to push anti-immigration agenda Default and fiscal austerity felt by everyone in Greece, but blamed on illegal immigrants Default and fiscal austerity felt by everyone in Greece, but blamed on illegal immigrants Effects of neo-liberal globalization have collided with the concept of a nation state with an identity and borders Effects of neo-liberal globalization have collided with the concept of a nation state with an identity and borders Affects a person’s ability to identify with their changing national, and even ethnic, culture Affects a person’s ability to identify with their changing national, and even ethnic, culture

Greek ‘Golden Dawn’ Golden Dawn protesting for a “Greece for Greeks”

French ‘Front National’ Front National is a far-right political party whose agenda revolves around anti-immigration and xenophobia Front National is a far-right political party whose agenda revolves around anti-immigration and xenophobia Focuses on differences in values between secular France and strictly religious Muslim immigrants Focuses on differences in values between secular France and strictly religious Muslim immigrants By law, religion is not allowed in public locales By law, religion is not allowed in public locales Wearing of the burka and headscarf, prayer in the streets Wearing of the burka and headscarf, prayer in the streets “We only submit to God and no one else” ( of-paris-a-warning-to-the-west/ ) “We only submit to God and no one else” ( of-paris-a-warning-to-the-west/ ) of-paris-a-warning-to-the-west/ of-paris-a-warning-to-the-west/ Leader Marine Le Pen sees an ‘Islamization’ of French culture Leader Marine Le Pen sees an ‘Islamization’ of French culture Expected Islam to adapt to France, but France is adapting to Islam Expected Islam to adapt to France, but France is adapting to Islam

Identity and Globalization Increasing loyalty to ethnic identity Increasing loyalty to ethnic identity To those who view globalization as a homogenizing force, the need to devote themselves to maintaining their cultural identity is strong To those who view globalization as a homogenizing force, the need to devote themselves to maintaining their cultural identity is strong Esp. in cases where national borders are redrawn around groups of people Esp. in cases where national borders are redrawn around groups of people New national identities forced on existing ethnic identities New national identities forced on existing ethnic identities Ex: Alsace-Lorraine Ex: Alsace-Lorraine Ex: Kurds Ex: Kurds

Ex: Parisian Banlieue Violence and rioting in French suburbs is consequence of both ethnic and identity conflict Violence and rioting in French suburbs is consequence of both ethnic and identity conflict Ethnic and religious friction with Parisians (white, Catholic vs. African, Muslim) Ethnic and religious friction with Parisians (white, Catholic vs. African, Muslim) Feeling of separation from native countries/traditions Feeling of separation from native countries/traditions Prejudice makes assimilation into French society difficult Prejudice makes assimilation into French society difficult Suburban ‘Villes Nouvelles’ designed to house North African labor migrants in isolation from Paris proper Suburban ‘Villes Nouvelles’ designed to house North African labor migrants in isolation from Paris proper Result is divided population (physically and mentally) Result is divided population (physically and mentally)

Ex: Parisian Banlieue cont’d Protesters use the Internet to coordinate with other ‘villes nouvelles’ For them, rioting is about garnering social attention

Ex: Parisian Banlieue cont’d French-born children of immigrants feel disconnected from both parent’s native culture and their own French culture French-born children of immigrants feel disconnected from both parent’s native culture and their own French culture More global openness, more inconsistencies in identity More global openness, more inconsistencies in identity Ex: Secularism and banning of headscarves/burka Ex: Secularism and banning of headscarves/burka Globalization is less about homogenization, more about becoming acultural Globalization is less about homogenization, more about becoming acultural Root of the problem is economic globalization Root of the problem is economic globalization Promises to increase global integration and reduce poverty Promises to increase global integration and reduce poverty BUT pushes low-skill jobs away from developed countries BUT pushes low-skill jobs away from developed countries Migrants and natives alike vying for the same scarce jobs Migrants and natives alike vying for the same scarce jobs

U.S.-Mexico Border 1/10 th of the US population was born outside the country 1/10 th of the US population was born outside the country 85% of Mexicans who cross into the US border do so illegally 85% of Mexicans who cross into the US border do so illegally Work opportunities and standards of living in the US far exceed those in Mexico Work opportunities and standards of living in the US far exceed those in Mexico Strong pull factors for labor migration Strong pull factors for labor migration Labor migrants leave behind families, but… Labor migrants leave behind families, but… US-Mexico border has become increasingly difficult to breach US-Mexico border has become increasingly difficult to breach Illegal immigrants rely on the underground economy Illegal immigrants rely on the underground economy An effect of increased border security is keeping immigrants in An effect of increased border security is keeping immigrants in

U.S.-Mexico Border Right-wing politics and conservatives tend to believe that illegal (and legal) immigrants push down all wages Right-wing politics and conservatives tend to believe that illegal (and legal) immigrants push down all wages They resent the fact that illegal immigrants use public services paid for by tax-paying citizens They resent the fact that illegal immigrants use public services paid for by tax-paying citizens Bottom-line: The uncertainty, fear, and resentment that revolve around immigration are problematic Bottom-line: The uncertainty, fear, and resentment that revolve around immigration are problematic “Free mobility is a universal and basic human right” “Free mobility is a universal and basic human right”

What to Take Away? Migration still faces many barriers, unlike other global flows Migration still faces many barriers, unlike other global flows Barriers are based on Westphalian state and its borders Barriers are based on Westphalian state and its borders Globalization has rendered the Westphalian concept somewhat obsolete since the role of nation-states is changing (because global flows penetrate it more often) Globalization has rendered the Westphalian concept somewhat obsolete since the role of nation-states is changing (because global flows penetrate it more often) Openness and external influences across borders erodes the sovereignty of the ‘Westphalian’ state Openness and external influences across borders erodes the sovereignty of the ‘Westphalian’ state Ex: migration threatens national identity and economy Ex: migration threatens national identity and economy Globalization has facilitated greater migration and consequently greater internal, territorial, and ethnic conflict Globalization has facilitated greater migration and consequently greater internal, territorial, and ethnic conflict

Final Thoughts Peace through interdependence? Peace through interdependence? Globalization has reduced interstate disputes overall, but not territorial, internal, or ethnic conflicts Globalization has reduced interstate disputes overall, but not territorial, internal, or ethnic conflicts Globalization has NOT flattened the world (borders are still highly important) Globalization has NOT flattened the world (borders are still highly important) Globalization makes it easier for nations to extend their power beyond borders to protect citizens, but limits power to protect borders Globalization makes it easier for nations to extend their power beyond borders to protect citizens, but limits power to protect borders Interfering with sovereignty of other nations or groups  conflict Interfering with sovereignty of other nations or groups  conflict Without access to the global market, the resource base for many internal conflicts (think Opium/drugs/etc.) would disappear Without access to the global market, the resource base for many internal conflicts (think Opium/drugs/etc.) would disappear “By increasing the prospective gains that may result from settled borders, globalization offers incentives for a well-bordered world” “By increasing the prospective gains that may result from settled borders, globalization offers incentives for a well-bordered world”