Knowra Ethnic conflict Ethnic conflict Ethnic conflict is organized contention between groups distinguished by ethnic identity, often involving disputes over power, territory, resources, recognition, or political rights.
Ethnic nationalism : A form of nationalism that defines the nation through shared ethnic identity. Political claims framed around ethnic nationhood can sharpen disputes over sovereignty and belonging.
Ethnicity : A form of collective identity associated with shared ancestry, history, culture, language, or other markers. Ethnic conflict depends on identities understood as distinguishing one group from another.
Rwandan genocide : The 1994 mass killing in Rwanda, in which extremist forces and participants killed hundreds of thousands, predominantly Tutsi. It demonstrates how political organization and wartime conditions enabled genocidal violence along ethnic lines.
Class conflict : Conflict between social classes over economic interests, power, and control of resources. It foregrounds economic position, whereas ethnic conflict is organized around group identity.
Ethnic outbidding : Competition in which political actors adopt increasingly extreme ethnic appeals to outflank rivals. It explains how electoral competition can intensify ethnic polarization.
Ethnic boundary : A socially maintained distinction between people classified as belonging to different ethnic groups. Boundaries shape who is treated as an insider, an outsider, or a political constituency.
Bosnian War : A 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina marked by competing national projects, forced displacement, and mass atrocities. It shows how state breakup and territorial claims can produce ethnicized warfare.
Religious conflict : Organized contention between groups whose opposition is framed substantially through religious affiliation or belief. Religious and ethnic identities can overlap, but they are not interchangeable explanations.
Security dilemma : A situation in which defensive measures by one party appear threatening to another, prompting reciprocal escalation. Communities fearing attack may arm or mobilize, making others feel less safe.
Social identity theory : A theory explaining how group membership shapes self-conception, intergroup comparison, and behavior. It illuminates how group categorization can influence perceptions and intergroup attitudes.
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