• You are figh,ng another group because she or he is from the
other group, ethnicity above everything which drives the
vonflict
o Academic literature: Edward Shils and Clifford Geertz
§ These academics were oCen aaacked for their views
§ Primordialists: difference between ethnici,es is big
§ ‘By a primordial aBachment is meant one that stems from the ‘givens’
of social existence ... congrui9es of blood, speech, custom and so on, are
seen to have an ineffable, and at 9mes overpowering, coerciveness in
and of themselves. One is bound to one’s kinsman, one’s neighbour,
one’s fellow believer, ipso facto [by that very fact]; as the result not
merely of personal affec9on, prac9cal necessity, common interest, or
incurred obliga9on, but at least in great part by virtue of some
unaccountable absolute import aBributed to the very 9e itself’ (Geertz
1963 quoted in Cohen 1999: 4, emphasis added)
- Instrumentalism
o Ancient hatred is usually ‘selec,vely retrieved by the knowledge elite, ignoring
the many instances of coopera,on and coexistence’
o Most ethnic groups interact in a coopera,ve and peaceful manner
§ The same ethnic groups can live together peacefully in one
country/region/locality, while being in conflict in another
o Ethnic groups can change over ,me! But instrumentalism cannot explain this
change (e.g., how language changes over ,me)
o Emphasis on the importance of ethnicity in social, poli,cal and economic
compe,,on
§ Ethnicity is socially and poli,cally constructed over ,me
§ A resource for leaders to mobilize followers to pursue their interests
§ Thus violence is provoked by poli,cal leaders who manipulate symbols
and beliefs to clash groups against each other for poli,cal benefits
§ Role of elites
• Ethnic conflict à manipula,on by elites for power-aaainment
and self-interest, elites point out that the cause of the issue is
the other ethnicity
§ But leaders do not have unlimited power to manipulate iden,,es and
must do so within exis,ng condi,ons
o BUT why the masses follow the leader: “ABen9on needs to be paid to
developing theory that links elite and mass concerns and answers the insistent
ques9on of why the followers follow. The role of apprehension and group
psychology needs specifica9on, as does the importance of symbolic
controversies in ethnic conflict. [...] It is necessary to account, not merely for
ambi9on, but for an9pathy. A bloody phenomenon cannot be explained by a
bloodless theory” (Horowitz, 1985, p.140, emphasis added)
- Construc,vism
o Ethnic iden,ty not something people ‘possess’ but something they construct
in specific social and historical contexts to further their own interests
§ Fluid and subjec,ve
16
other group, ethnicity above everything which drives the
vonflict
o Academic literature: Edward Shils and Clifford Geertz
§ These academics were oCen aaacked for their views
§ Primordialists: difference between ethnici,es is big
§ ‘By a primordial aBachment is meant one that stems from the ‘givens’
of social existence ... congrui9es of blood, speech, custom and so on, are
seen to have an ineffable, and at 9mes overpowering, coerciveness in
and of themselves. One is bound to one’s kinsman, one’s neighbour,
one’s fellow believer, ipso facto [by that very fact]; as the result not
merely of personal affec9on, prac9cal necessity, common interest, or
incurred obliga9on, but at least in great part by virtue of some
unaccountable absolute import aBributed to the very 9e itself’ (Geertz
1963 quoted in Cohen 1999: 4, emphasis added)
- Instrumentalism
o Ancient hatred is usually ‘selec,vely retrieved by the knowledge elite, ignoring
the many instances of coopera,on and coexistence’
o Most ethnic groups interact in a coopera,ve and peaceful manner
§ The same ethnic groups can live together peacefully in one
country/region/locality, while being in conflict in another
o Ethnic groups can change over ,me! But instrumentalism cannot explain this
change (e.g., how language changes over ,me)
o Emphasis on the importance of ethnicity in social, poli,cal and economic
compe,,on
§ Ethnicity is socially and poli,cally constructed over ,me
§ A resource for leaders to mobilize followers to pursue their interests
§ Thus violence is provoked by poli,cal leaders who manipulate symbols
and beliefs to clash groups against each other for poli,cal benefits
§ Role of elites
• Ethnic conflict à manipula,on by elites for power-aaainment
and self-interest, elites point out that the cause of the issue is
the other ethnicity
§ But leaders do not have unlimited power to manipulate iden,,es and
must do so within exis,ng condi,ons
o BUT why the masses follow the leader: “ABen9on needs to be paid to
developing theory that links elite and mass concerns and answers the insistent
ques9on of why the followers follow. The role of apprehension and group
psychology needs specifica9on, as does the importance of symbolic
controversies in ethnic conflict. [...] It is necessary to account, not merely for
ambi9on, but for an9pathy. A bloody phenomenon cannot be explained by a
bloodless theory” (Horowitz, 1985, p.140, emphasis added)
- Construc,vism
o Ethnic iden,ty not something people ‘possess’ but something they construct
in specific social and historical contexts to further their own interests
§ Fluid and subjec,ve
16
