There are more than 190 countries in the world, but there are even more nations. Only less than 20 of them can be called ethnically homogeneous - that is, their ethnic minorities make up less than 5% of the population. In more than 40% of the world live with five or more minorities. In total there are about 8 thousand ethnic groups - large and small - and, theoretically, each of them can claim to independence. Thus, the vast majority of the world can become an arena for ethnic conflict.
Such processes even can be seen into "silent" Western Europe and can be observed, for example, in the UK (the problem with Northern Ireland), Spain (Basque Country), France (Corsica).
In the second half of the 20th century the world has been noted more than 300 ethnic conflicts periodically very violent. The UN estimates that ethnic conflicts have claimed more lives than the "classic" war. Europe has been a region of numerous ethnic conflicts for a long time, which mainly rooted in the distant historical past. The discrepancy between the political and ethnic boundaries is characteristic of modern Europe.
About 17 countries in Europe are ethnically homogeneous such as Iceland and Portugal. In the rest of European countries separatism (and partly based on nationality) more likely to occur.
But in some countries with very small number of minorities can happen attempts of separatism: repeated attempts to serve the Faroe Islands with autonomy to secede from Denmark, or the idea of the proclamation of the Padan Republic in Northern Italy.
In the countries with larger number of minority international relations have been characterized, as a rule, with greater complexity like in Britain, Spain and France.
In the UK the major national problems are associated with Scotland and Northern Ireland(Ulster). In 1997 after referendum the Scottish Parliament was reestablished. In fact the London Parliament remain responsible for the economy, foreign policy, defense, social security, so that the Scottish Parliament only deal with farming, education, health, police, tourism and sports, but it has greatly improved the political situation. The same happened in Wales, but the most radical Scottish radicals continue to advocate complete separation from the UK and establishing an independent state.
The situation with Northern Ireland even more difficult. Native population of Ulster (Northern Ireland) are Irish. They are Roman Catholic, while immigrants from England and Scotland are committed to the Anglican and Presbyterian churches. Religious overlapping aggravates the situation, making Ulster the region of the socio-economic, ethnic and religious conflicts. Nowadays direct rule by London, introduced a quarter century ago, has been canceled. The government of Ulster was restored. A Republic of Ireland has excluded from its Constitution that the northern counties were considered to be an integral part of the country. In other words, Ulster has restored autonomy. But the disarmament of all militias of IRA(Irish Republican Army) is not finished yet, and the threat of a new exacerbation of ethnic conflicts is not completely removed.
In Spain national problem arose after the Catalans, Basques and Galicians were deprived of some of the administrative, financial and legal privileges they enjoyed before, and forcibly subordinated to the central government in Madrid. For over 40 years of Franco's government any manifestation of national feeling were cruelly persecuted. It was not allowed to hang Catalan and Basque flags and speak the national language, and even perform traditional dances. National problem was announced as non-existent. New government adopted new Constitution according to which there are 17 autonomic regions in Spain, including Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country. In Catalonia, as the most economically developed part of the country, that preserved their national language, separatist tendencies continue to have great strength. While some parties are willing to limit the broader autonomy, while others insist on complete separation from Spain. But the main sore point of interethnic relations in Spain remains the Basque Country, with a population of 2.5 million people. Extremist nationalists and separatists insist on the establishing of their own state under the name of Euskadi (euskal - self-Basques), and in part not only of the northern provinces of Spain, but also the border of France, whose separation occurred in the early Middle Ages. As the main military force of extremist Basque separatist organization performs under the name ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, which means " Basque Homeland and Freedom".
In France, as in many other countries, most recently aggravated the national consciousness of ethnic minorities, who are fighting to preserve their traditional culture. The separatist movement in Corsica, is thestrongest, which the French parliament in 2001 decided to give limited autonomy.
From other countries in this group may be mentioned Romania, where the restoration of autonomy has long been seeking by Hungarians living in Transylvania, Croatia, where the essential contradictions separate Croats and Serbs, Baltic states, where the most acute problem is the preservation of political and other rights of Russian speakers.
The most striking example of a bilingual country in Europe is Belgium, where interethnic relations have become a challenge almost from the moment of formation of an independent state in 1830. On thhe state emblem is inscribed the motto of Belgium: "The unity is strength." But to achieve such unity was not possible for many decades. The fact that Belgium - a binational and bilingual country, inhabited mostly by Flemings and Walloons, in addition, a small proportion of the population in the east of the country speaks German. To exit from the crisis it was decided to make the transition to a federal state structure, which was conducted in several stages and completed in early 1993, when the Belgian parliament approved a constitutional reform. With the creation of a two-part federation in Belgium instead of the former unitary state came the basis for normalization of relations between the Flemish and Francophone. But this did not solve all the problems of this long-standing ethnic conflict. The problem" still applies to the position of the Flemish at Brussels, and the position of Francophones regarding the area around Brussels (the so-called border zone) and the linguistic border between the two parts of the federation. Some Flemish politicians still insist on self-determination, or at least at the transition from the federation to confederation. In 2008, the conflict escalated again and there was a threat of the division of Belgium into three parts.
A good example of a country who managed to peaceably solve their national problems is Switzerland. In this country, four indigenous people: the German-Swiss (65% of the total population), the Franco-Swiss (18%), the Italo-Swiss (10%) and retoroman (1%), living in compact groups in the historical areas of national. All four languages in Switzerland are recognized by state. They carried the state legislation and paperwork that is common to the whole of Switzerland.
(Mutlu)
Works Cited
Esman, Milton. Ethnic Conflict in the Western World. Cornell University Press, n.d.
Griffits, Stephen. Nationalism and Ethnic Conflicts: Threat to European Security. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, n.d.
Jalali, Rita and Seymour Martin Lipset. Racial and Ethnic Conflicts: A Global Perspective. Vol. 107. Political Science Quarterly, n.d. 4 vols.
Kostecki, Wojciech. Prevention of Ethnic Conflicts - Lessons from Romania. Warsaw: Berghof Research Center for Constructive Conflict Management, n.d.
Messina, Anthony. The Two Tiers of Ethnic Conflict in Western Europe. n.d.
Mutlu, Suzan. Ethnic Relations and Conflicts in Central Europe. Fountain magazine, 1999.
NationMaster.com. Sydney: Rapid Intelligence, 2011.
Simon, Patric. "Ethnic" statistic and data protection in the Council of Europe countries. Strasbourg: European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, 2007.
Szayna, Thomas. Ethnic Conflict in Central Europe and the Balkans. A framework and US Policy Options. Santa Monica: Arroyo Center, n.d.
Hey Victoria,
ReplyDeleteI found it really interesting that you chose to talk about Europe and ethnic conflicts. While I knew there were many bilingual nations in Europe, I never knew that there was any conflict within the ethnic groups.
I'm curious to know which specific conflicts these ethnic groups have fought about in the past or are fighting about currently. Are there any specific issues that divide these nation, or that impact international politics?
That is why I called the topic "Silent" Western Europe, because everybody thinks that relations are good there. Mainly the causes that divide population is historical strong sense of nationalism. In the past they have often engendered by the status of disadvantaged ethnic minorities (restrictions on the use of national language, the expression of religious beliefs, racism, chauvinism, restrictions on access to prestigious occupations), nowadays ethnic conflicts are caused not by direct discrimination and violation of human rights, but by social factors.
ReplyDeleteIn some cases, increase in educational and cultural level, changes in standards of living rise in ethnic minority communities new demands and requirements, to satisfy which the society is not ready. Thus, Appeared in several West European countries among the intellectuals, the movements for the preservation of local languages and dialects put forward demands of recognition as a state. That has become a source of friction. In other situations, more typical, modernization changes in the geographical distribution of productive forces affected an ethnic regions that is subject to new requirements and challenges. The elimination of entire professions in post-industrial era, if it affects the interests of some ethnic groups more than others, inevitably affects ethnic relations in society.
Also it has direct impact on international relations as all of these country are on the high level of integration and as a result of immigration, several ethnics groups are spread throughout the national borders and they have a desire to be united, while others wish not to be associated with other nationalities.
I think your title is very appropriate for your blog post. We generally think of Western Europe as a region that relatively free from this type of ethic conflict. Today, when we think of ethnic conflict, we tend to think of the conflicts such as ethnic tension in the Middle East or fighting between the governments and indigenous people in Latin America. I find it astounding that Western Europe has had so many recent ethnic "fights," let alone ethnic groups.
ReplyDeleteIt is also interesting how you mentioned the issue of immigration. Due to geographical proximity, this is a major issue with European nations. With influxes of immigrants and mixes of ethnic groups, it becomes an ongoing struggle to provide for the nation's people. As more and more people become a part of/associate with various nations, distinction of ethnic minorities becomes less clear. So, legislation catering/relating to the various people in a country becomes increasingly difficult. This governmental problem can even serve as a way to heighten minority tension, seeing that some minorities might think that their "voice" isn't being represented.