Democracy and identity conflicts in Asia: Identifying the issues for Canada and multilateral institutions

Abstract

Outbreaks of violent conflicts linked with claims of ethnic, religious, and other cultural differences has drawn attention to a link between political and economic liberalization and the rise of ethnic conflict. Events in societies such as Sri Lanka and Indonesia suggest that, under certain circumstances, the process of democratization contributes to ethnic and nationalist conflict. This paper reflects upon the policy implications of recent scholarship on transitions from authoritarian rule, particularly in the culturally divided societies of East, South‐East, and South Asia. It aims to raise awareness of the dangerous tendency of Western governments and non‐governmental organizations to associate democratization mainly with the introduction of elections and the protection of individual civil and political rights, neglecting the legitimate grievances of minorities, aboriginal peoples, and other vulnerable communities that must be addressed if meaningful democratization is to succeed. Such a tendency is evident in international governmental and media focus on Burma, a multinational society with one of the most tragic and costly of the failed democratization processes in Asia.