Ethnicity in a societal context

Abstract

Abstract Two types of problems form the basic themes of this paper. One deals with the definition of ethnicity and the other with the societal context and how it influences the relation of ethnic groups to the nation. Key concepts in the definition of ethnicity are group, institution, role of the individual, and the relation of ethnic groups one to the other. Understanding the societal context is essential because the empirical character of ethnicity is dependent on the history and the present organization of the given society. Two general and polar types of relationships between ethnicity and national government are suggested. One is separate domains for ethnicity and politics, and the other direct ethnic control of government. In the separate domain approach ethnic groups and government have parallel rather than dominant or subordinate relations with each other. A brief treatment of cases of the above two types of relationships is made with the United States emphasizing the separate domain approach, and...