Ethnic conflicts in multicultural societies and (im)possibilities to prevent them

Abstract

This paper points out the main characteristics and the major consequences of ethnic conflicts in multicultural societies. Also, the (im)possibilities to prevent them are also questioned. The base for this analysis are ethnic conflicts that occurred on the territory of former Yugoslavia, which are in some of their aspects qualified as typical, and in others as specific. Examination of the question of ethnic conflicts in multicultural societies is approached with an essential intention to show how the joint destructive action of domestic actors and a negative interference from the side necessarily produce catastrophic consequences in such societies. With the intention to offer a more balanced and a more complete perspective of this crucial problem, the author pleads for the respect of few ground principles in dealing with and for seeing the eruption of ethnic conflicts. In his opinion, in order to truly accept those principles and successfully realize them, it is necessary, beside the fundamental inner changes, to also eliminate negative action from the outside actors, and improve "positive interference" of the external factor, based on good evaluation of one's own interests, which are not incompatible with truly developmental needs and interests of societies and countries of this region.