Ethnic Relations Research Articles

Arguments against Federalism in Nepal: A Discussion on State Structure Reform

Aims: This study critically examines the evolution of federalism in Nepal and its challenges within the country's diverse political, social, and ethnic landscape. The objective is to explore how political parties, ethnic groups, and indigenous communities differ in their perspectives on state restructuring and national unity. Study Design: Qualitative study. Place and Duration of Study: This study utilizes secondary data sources from library archives, academic articles, party manifestos, public speeches, and reports published over the past decade. Methodology: The study applies thematic analysis to secondary data, identifying recurring themes such as nationalism, ethnic identity, governance structures, and critiques of federalism. Sources include academic literature and public documents on political discourse in Nepal. Results: The study reveals that the debate on federalism is highly contested, particularly in terms of ethnic fragmentation, socio-economic risks, and national disintegration. Political opposition to federalism raises concerns about governance, ethnic relations, and national cohesion. Conclusion: Federalism in Nepal remains a complex and contested issue, with significant political and ethnic implications. The study highlights the need for more historical and cultural research to support federal restructuring based on identity, while addressing concerns about the risks posed to national unity and economic stability.

The impact of religious diversity on the Kurdish identity within a geopolitical framework

Importance. The Kurds are currently dispersed across four countries (Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq), which are quite negative towards them, trying to suppress expression of their identity. Historiographically, the Kurdish issue is usually perceived as another obstacle to regional stability in the Middle East, but the uniqueness of their position forces us to look at the situation from a different perspective. The aim of the study is to prove that the experience of asymmetric interaction of Kurds with various social actors can be extrapolated to address the problem of long-term stability in the Middle East and the resolution of other conflicts.Materials and Methods. The research is based on the principles of historicism and objectivity; chronological and structural methods and comparative analysis are used.Results and Discussion. The novelty of the study is that it allows us to consider the religious heterogeneity of the Kurds as a possible positive factor that can be used to build a new Kurdish identity. The peculiarities of the situation of the Kurds in different territories, including in a religious context, are also analyzed. The trends in ethnic relations in the territories of four nearby countries (Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey) are determined.Conclusion. The eclectic nature of Kurdistan’s religious composition has greatly influenced Kurdish political identity, and despite external divisive factors, the diverse Kurdish population is united due to its culture of tolerance, which stems from its long history of diverse religious traditions. At the same time, it complicates their interactions with the neighbouring states that are intolerant of dissent and other faiths.

Normative and Security Challenges of Transborder Ethnic Kinship in Africa: The Case of Ethiopia

Abstract This article extends the study of securitization of cross-border ethnicity beyond its conventional European focus, by analyzing ongoing security challenges surrounding ethnic Somalis in Ethiopia and their relationship to neighboring Somalia. In methodological terms, it looks beyond the irredentist prism through which this case is usually considered, applying newer conceptual and normative frameworks on cross-border ethnicity developed in a European context and assessing their applicability to Africa. Applying Brubaker's “triadic nexus' concept to the Ethiopian case, I discuss how the conclusion of the Ethiopia-Somalia war and Somalia's collapse as an external kin state did not end the securitization of cross-border Somali kinship, but merely repackaged it in new forms. In this regard, the article highlights a continued need to ensure the human security of Somalis in Ethiopia by recognizing and accommodating them as a cross-border ethnic group. From the standpoint of contemporary norms on the regulation of minority issues in interstate relations, the federalization model adopted by Ethiopia after 1991 seems to provide a promising foundation. Thus far, however, the hegemonic nature of the federal project has failed to grant Somalis an appropriate measure of internal self-determination.

The Securitization of Transborder Ethnic Kinship: Contextual Explorations around the World

The Securitization of Transborder Ethnic Kinship: Contextual Explorations around the World

Modes of Securitization and Desecuritization of Transnational Kinship Ties: Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia amidst Rising Chinese Power

Abstract This paper explores under what context the transnational ethnic kinship ties between the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia and China have not led to their securitization and in what context they have. As the rising great power with exponential economic growth for the past few decades, China has transformed itself from a dirt-poor backwater state to the second largest economy in the world and is also seemingly on the way to reclaim the historical dominant status in East and Southeast Asia. During this process, overseas Chinese in various home states in Southeast Asia have not experienced a uniform securitization of their kinship ties. This paper investigates some of the dynamic patterns about overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia’s relationship between the changing kin state and their home states in the recent past. Focusing on how states in Southeast Asia maintain different types of relations with China in the context of the latter’s rising, this paper contends that the ways in which overseas Chinese communities in the region manage their political space and negotiate their belonging are a function of a combination of international structural changes and domestic political factors. Empirically, this paper compares three states of Southeast Asia—Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia—in the different ways of their treatment of the ethnic Chinese, as well as the responding strategies utilized by the ethnic Chinese in navigating their political space and belonging.

The Study of National Identity in the Framework of Chinese Ethnopsychology

The population of the Chinese nation makes up a quarter of the total population of the globe. If studies of the self-consciousness of the Chinese nation are not conducted in world psychology, then a significant gap will appear in this field of knowledge. It is no exaggeration to say that the study of Chinese national identity plays an important role in the field of world psychology. The self-awareness of the Chinese nation at the cognitive level is manifested in a full understanding of the traditional cultures of various Chinese ethnic groups, a rational attitude to ethnic cultural differences and the constant improvement of cultural adaptability. The self-awareness of the Chinese nation on an emotional level manifests itself in the form of close exchanges and contacts between various ethnic groups, constantly reducing the psychological distance between these groups, forming complex and harmonious ethnic relations; The will and beliefs are manifested as the will and determination of all ethnic groups in the process of realizing the great renaissance of the Chinese nation. A complete understanding of the conceptual system of self-awareness of the Chinese nation from the point of view of ethnic psychology is of great importance for building a Chinese national community.

Colonialism, Weaponisation of Ethnicity & Intermittent Political Violence

Ethnic conflicts have increased across the globe, and especially after the Cold war; and indeed affected various countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and America. In most of these cases, it has been triggered by struggles for the meagre resources and domination of political power. In Africa, studies on ethnic conflicts have indicated a strong interplay between ethnicity and the colonial phenomenon. This article endeavours to connect the intermittent political violence in Uasin Gishu, Kenya, within the purview of the colonial phenomenon particularly, when the violence was viewed historically as a process and not an event. It hypothesizes that the violent subterfuge of ethnic communities in Uasin Gishu and other portions of the rift valley were the result of the despair and fear perceived by native communities as a result of presumed economic and political setbacks during the colonial era. To this end, the initial research study was guided by three theories, namely: Primordialism, instrumentalism and relative deprivation theories which reinforced each other as the lens through which to make sense of the connection between colonialism and the said intermittent political violence. The study is based on a research project that employed the historical method from the dual perspectives of interpretivism philosophical outlook and qualitative approach. The main submission, in this research article, is that the coming and settlement of the colonialists led to the growth of toxic ethnic relations within the Rift valley region that were initially non-existent. This situation was further exacerbated after independence (1963), as the political elites became the new drivers of the vice

Рецензия на книгу: Кузембайулы А., Абиль Е., Алибек Т. Сибирский улус и казахи: проблемы этнической преемственности и исторической памяти

Results and scientific novelty. The reviewed book consists of four chapters. The first one is devoted to the history of research of the Shaybanids and the Taibugid statehoods in the south of Western Siberia, as well as to the theoretical and methodological approaches to the issues of ethnic history reconstruction in the Russian and Kazakh historical fields. The second chapter deals with “Historical memory as the source of the history of the Siberian ulus”. It presents memory artefacts of the so-called Siberian ulus in the Kazakh epos poetry and in historical legends on “The materials on Kyrgyz land use”. The sources presented here are virtually unknown to Russian researchers and they open new opportunities for the study of some issues of the late medieval Siberian statehood history. The third chapter raises issues of the prehistory of the Siberian ulus, with special attention given to the ulus of Taibugi, the study of whose descendants has recently taken the lead in Kazakh medieval studies. The fourth chapter is devoted to the history of the Siberian ulus, divided into separate stages (13th–14th centuries, the period of the collapse of the Golden Horde, the Siberian Khanate). The reviewed monograph is an important stage in the formation of modern Kazakh historiography on the issues of further study of the late medieval history of Western Siberia. It reveals some new sources, unknown or little known in earlier Russian historical science; there are interesting and original ideas on ethnic relations of the Siberian and Kazakh population and the origin of the Siberian princely dynasty of the Taibugids, which need further reflection. However, ignoring many achievements of the latest Russian historiography and its selective quoting, refusal to build an accurate chronology, skipping entire decades in the generalising conclusions, and the choice of the term “Siberian ulus”, which has not revealed its full potential, raise the question as to what extent the authors were really able to create a quality study on the role of the Shibanid statehood in the history of the formation of the Kazakh people.

Ethnic Boundaries and Identity Fluidity of Bannermen and Civilians in the Qing Dynasty

Abstract The Qing dynasty enforced a policy of separate governance for the people of the Eight Banners, ruling that bannermen were neither to be administered under the regular civilian administrative system, nor listed on the civilian register. Institutionally and legally, the labels “Banner” (qi 旗) and “civilian” (min 民) marked a fundamental divide between different social groups in the Qing. However, in actual practice, the boundary between the two was less rigid. An ambiguous area existed within the seemingly strict legal and administrative regime, providing opportunists with an abundance of loopholes to exploit. Some changed their status from “civilian commoner” to “bannermen” to acquire land, while others moved from “bannermen” status to “civilian commoner” status to pursue promotion in the civil service. Shedding light on the everyday lives of these people, this article delves into the intricate Banner–civilian classification of the Qing dynasty, with a focus on the overlapping area between the parallel systems. It aims to rectify the conventional binary perspective that strictly dichotomizes Banner and civilian status. By doing so, it highlights the multifaceted nature and diversity inherent in Qing ethnic relations and local society.

Shared identity, an integrative component of Ethiopian federalism: Informing shared society in the Konso‐Alle‐Derashe Area

AbstractThis study explores a shared identity framework for inclusive ethnic relationships under Ethiopian federalism. Decades of the federal experiment show mixed results. On the one hand, it enabled nationalities to exercise extensive rights and freedoms. On the other hand, however, it coincided with pervasive conflicts and state fragility. Contrary to the view that ethnic federalism is fundamentally flawed, this study argues that the problems are epiphenomenons that can be improved. Using an exploratory research approach, the study has taken the Konso‐Derashe‐Alle area to show how shared identity helps to resolve the contradiction in Ethiopian federalism. According to the findings, maturing ethnicity and existing political consciousness suggest ethnic federalism as a viable system for the study area but it should be supplemented by a framework of shared spaces such as the shared society system that capitalizes on the extensive shared sociocultural values of the area to overturn the growing exclusive ethnicity.

Ethnic Relations between Lithuanians and Poles in the Eastern and South-Eastern Part of Lithuania 1960–1985

The article explores the manifestation of the Soviet national policy in the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania during the Khrushchev Thaw period and the Brezhnev Era of stagnation by focusing on the ethnic relations between Lithuanian and Poles who, in terms of numbers, dominated in the region. The situation in the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania (multi-ethnic population, geographical location, historical heritage, etc.) was very favourable for the implementation of the Soviet national policy. Based on the slogans of “friendship between nations” and “internationalism”, the concept of the convergence of the nations was realised. It manifested in closer relations between various ethnic groups, soviet republics and their population. As far as eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania was concerned, relationships were promoted with neighbouring republics, firstly with Belarus, rather than with other regions of the Republic of Lithuania. Such policy led to the formation of a specific situation in Vilnius region. A certain part of the inhabitants of the region more often identified themselves with the Belarusian population and had a poor understanding of the life of other regions in Lithuania. This determined segregation between the Lithuanian and Polish communities, and alienation of the Poles. The Soviet authorities controlled ethnic relations between Lithuanians and Poles; any potential ethnic tension was immediately repressed and hardly ever surfaced. Ethnic disagreements between Lithuanians and Poles (due to different interpretation of historical past, etc.) were frozen for several decades and broke out only at time of the decline of the Soviet period. The position of the Polish population in the region was fuelled by attention and support from the Polish authorities and society. However, only relationships sanctioned by the Soviet authorities were allowed. Therefore any nationalist ideas from Poland were immediately stifled. Seeking faster indoctrination of the population, the Soviet authorities used the Polish language factor in the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania. The Polish population in this region was provided an opportunity to develop education and culture in their mother tongue, yet this was controlled and Sovietised. The support for nurturing the Polish ethnic identity by the Soviets formed a stereotype among Lithuanians that Poles were protected and the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania was deliberately Polonised. In the 1970s, when attempts to consolidate the society in the USSR were made on the basis of the Russian language and culture, assimilation efforts (Russification) strengthened in Lithuania. This process particularly affected the position of the Poles in the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania (Polish schools became Russian schools, the number of mixed marriages increased, the Russian language was increasingly used for communication, etc.). Such policies led to the assimilation of certain part of the Polish population in the region.

Psychological Violence and Interculturality: A Correlational Study of Psychological Violence and Ethnic Identification at the Universidad Técnica del Norte-Ibarra

This study aimed to identify the level of psychological violence in ethnic relationships among students of the National Academic Leveling System (SNNA, derived from Spanish) at Universidad Técnica del Norte (UTN). The research is quantitative, cross-sectional and correlational due to the interaction observed between the variables associated with psychological violence and ethnic identification. A survey of 12 Likert-type questions was applied to students aged 17 years and older, encompassing both men and women representing different ethnicities. The sampling approach was probabilistic with a total of 1.158 participants. Subsequently, the collected data underwent statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. It allowed the verification of a relationship between psychological violence and ethnic identification, evidencing a moderate level of psychological violence. There is 95% confidence in the level of psychological violence among SNNA students, which is related to the ethnic identification of the population.

“It looks like a tinderbox you know”: Exploring Chinese Perspectives on Ethnic Dynamics in Sarawak, Malaysia

The study examines Chinese perspectives on ethnic dynamics in Sarawak at a personal level and at the national level. The case study involved interviews with three Chinese participants living in Sarawak, Malaysia. They have worked in the civil service, with two who are still in service and another who is retired. The analysis of the interview results shows positive perceptions of ethnic relations at the personal level. Due to their national school experience, the participants felt a sense of closeness with other ethnic groups. This laid the foundation for them to build cross-cultural friendships with friends and colleagues from other ethnic groups. Moreover, early exposure to multiculturalism through their parents engenders positive attitudes and openness towards other ethnicities. Being raised in a mixed-ethnic family can also cultivate a feeling of connection to other ethnic groups. While studying abroad, the participants felt solidarity with fellow Malaysians (in-group) and their shared national identity supercedes racial differences. However, the participants considered ethnic dynamics at the national level to be not satisfactory. They believe race and religion are inextricably linked, and that this connection is sometimes exploited for political gain by creating feelings of “us” versus “them”. Another area of contention is financial assistance not reaching the underprivileged regardless of race. Nevertheless, there are unifying factors like national sports which brings Malaysians together as one. The study proposes a model of ethnic dynamics at personal and national levels based on the Chinese perspective.

Ethnic conflicts and their relationship with temperature change in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its vicinity during the past 2000 years

In the context of global warming, the study of climate change and its impacts has garnered significant attention. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with its unique natural environment and socio-cultural significance, plays a crucial role in climate change and the development of the Chinese nation. Investigating the historical interactions, development, and socio-climatic background of the nomadic groups on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and agricultural ethnic groups in eastern China contributes to understanding the intrinsic mechanisms of how climate change affects the social interconnectivity of different ethnic groups. This paper is founded on an analysis of 450 conflict events between these groups, as reflected in ancient Chinese war chronicles and ethnic relations annals, creating a decadal conflict sequence from the Eastern Han to the Qing Dynasty (25AD-1910AD). The study conducts a correlation analysis and phase-wise statistical comparison between the climate research findings and the ethnic conflict sequence, specifically examining their relationship with temperature. The main findings are: (1) From the Eastern Han to the Qing Dynasty, a total of 876 conflicts occurred between the ethnic groups in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its vicinity (averaging 4.6 conflicts per decade), with 62.1% initiated by the Ethnic groups on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and 66.6% won by the Ethnic groups in eastern China; (2) The frequency of conflicts is primarily correlated with temperatures in the Eastern region, with a less distinct correlation in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. During overall warmer periods, conflict incidents were more frequent, with a higher proportion initiated by the Ethnic groups on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Conversely, in colder periods, there were fewer conflicts, with an increased proportion initiated by the Ethnic groups in eastern China; (3) Unlike conflicts between the Ethnic groups in northwestern and eastern China, the Ethnic groups on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau's external expansion was not a primary objective, indicating that the conflicts were mainly driven by regional economic strength and land productivity. The temperature can reduce land productivity by limiting the growth potential of crops and livestock or by reducing the advance to restrict their production. As a result, water resources, as a condition of land productivity variation, and climate became significant backgrounds for ethnic interactions.

Dynamics of the Protracted Chieftaincy Conflict in Nkwanta of the Oti Region of Ghana

The study examines the dynamics of the Nkwanta conflict from the lens of the causes, the effects of the conflict, and the measures that militate against the management of the protracted conflict in the Oti Region of Ghana. It draws the theoretical insights from Azar’s “extended societal conflicts" which postulates that conflicts or disputes in society are because of interlinked networks of insufficient development, structural deficiencies, and divisions in identity among other factors. The study utilizes largely a qualitative research design in which 23 interviewees shared their views, opinions, and perspectives on the Nkwanta conflict in the Oti Region of Ghana. The Nkwanta area is also closer to the Togo border which makes the area strategic and could make the conflict have a spill-over effect on Ghana and Togo due to the close ethnic relations of the Nkwanta people of Ghana and those in Togo. The study found that chieftaincy and land ownership are the main causes of the conflict. Other factors that contribute to the conflict include partisan politics and the vested interest of some individuals in the area. In terms of the effects of the conflict loss of lives and properties are the main effects while effective conflict resolution stems from the involvement of all the parties through respect, compromise, and forgiveness from the parties involved in the conflict. The study recommends the involvement of unbiased external mediators with a high sense of professionalism toward the resolution of the protracted Nkwanta conflict in the Oti Region of Ghana.

Ethnic integration in the “Lin-ge” migration epic: a grassroots perspective

This study comprehensively analyzes China’s ethnic migration epic, “Lin-ge,” as a case study to explore the cultural and social phenomena it reveals about exchanges, communication and integration among ethnic groups. It reveals how this process has facilitated mutual understanding and integration among diverse ethnic communities from a grassroots level. Focusing on inter-ethnic religious syncretism, economic interactions, warfare exchanges, trade practices, and intermarriages depicted in “Lin-ge,” the research showcases the complexity and dynamism of ethnic integration. It emphasizes the pivotal role of regional community identity in bridging different ethnic groups and forming the foundational cultural logic behind the identity of the Chinese national community. Through textual analysis, this study finds that “Lin-ge” transcends the boundaries between official and folk, sacred and secular, and historical and contemporary narratives, presenting a more inclusive and diversified perspective of the Chinese national community. The research highlights that the syncretism of religious beliefs, cultural exchanges, and social practices are key mechanisms in shaping the identity of regional social communities and promoting harmonious coexistence among various ethnic groups. Moreover, by reviewing extensive literature and conducting case analyses, this study provides a thorough understanding of China’s ethnic policies, ethnic relations, and the formation and development of multi-ethnic communities. The findings are not only of significant academic relevance to the fields of ethnology and anthropology but also offer practical guidance for addressing ethnic issues and promoting ethnic unity and national integration in modern society.

A Study on the Strategy of Modern Border Governance in the Qing Dynasty -- A Brief Discussion on the Governance Strategy of Zhao Erfeng during his tenure as the Resident Minister in Tibet

In the late Qing Dynasty, in order to consolidate the southwest border and resist the invasion of British colonizers. The central administrative group of the Qing Dynasty carried out a series of governance and business activities on the Xichuan border. In this series of activities, Zhao Erfeng, who was then the Minister of Border Affairs of Sichuan and Yunnan, was known as the "Zhao Butcher". He cruelly suppressed the national movement with iron and blood methods, and implemented strategies such as land reform and new policies, which greatly changed the form of border areas in Sichuan. This article aims to explore the development process of modern ethnic relations and border governance by exploring Zhao Erfeng's governance period, extracting the ruling ideas of Qing rulers towards ethnic border areas, and exploring the development process of modern ethnic relations and border governance.

Shaping landscapes: transforming ethnic lands into state highways in Nagaland

ABSTRACT Land for the Nagas in Northeastern India reflects the local, culturally shaped concepts of physical space, ethnic relations, and social identity. It embodies the political security and the symbolic universe that determine the interpersonal relations and distribution system between various regional groups. Based on an ethnographic exploration, the paper traces how land once imbued in traditions such as sacred lands, monolithic spaces, and ancestral properties are expropriated into state highways. It argues how these new roads become a kind of contact space where the interface between cultural differences, historical memories, and notions of modernity and traditions are conflated and negotiated. The paper seeks to document the issues pertaining to the (re)shaping and (re)configuration of ethnic landscapes through the intrusion of the roadscape.

The Effect of Hungarian Kin-State Politics on the Economic Life of Transcarpathia, Ukraine: A Snapshot of the Beregszász District between 2017 and 2020

Abstract Due to the frequent changes in ruling powers and shifting borders, in addition to the geopolitical situation of the region, Transcarpathia, the westernmost county of Ukraine, constitutes an especially suitable site for examining transnational ethnic kinship relations. The main aim of the present article is to shed light on the correlation between social-ethnic interactions and economic efficiency, paying special attention to the role of informal and formal ethnic relations in the activities of business actors and in their access to certain resources. The article analyzes how these processes have been influenced by Hungary’s kin-state politics. The research is based mainly on semi-structured interviews conducted with local Transcarpathian Hungarian and Ukrainian entrepreneurs as well as with the representatives of business organizations related to the given community and experts in the field. The investigation found that among Transcarpathian Hungarian entrepreneurs the role of formal ethnic relations has strengthened due to the financial support provided by Hungary, which was not the case for entrepreneurs belonging to the majority population. The extensive assistance by Hungary has given Hungarian entrepreneurs an advantage in accessing resources, which has caused some tension between Hungarian and Ukrainian entrepreneurs in Transcarpathia.

Ethnic Matters: Gender Differences in Behaviours and Attitudes

The study examined gender differences in behaviours and attitudes towards own and other ethnic groups among Sarawakians. The questionnaire data were from 70 respondents living in Sarawak, Malaysia. The questionnaire was on social interaction, attitudes towards ethnic relations, ethnic group perceptions, and ethnic group importance in the context of the Malaysian society. The results showed that there were no significant differences between female and male participants who reported frequent social interactions with people from their own ethnic groups and other ethnic groups. However, they seldom discuss interethnic issues and attend inter religious dialogues with other ethnic groups. The female and male participants were also not significantly different in their ethnic group perceptions. They preferred to be with people from the same ethnic groups in various settings, and acknowledged that people from different ethnic groups are different and yet similar. However, there was a gender difference for attitude towards ethnic relations. The participants reported positive attitude towards ethnic relations. Compared to the female participants, the male participants expressed a strong support for the right of ethnic groups to maintain their own unique traditions and, at the same time, expressed a stronger belief in the need for minority groups to accept the established system of government in this country to attain the Malaysian dream of racial harmony. There was also a significant gender difference for ethnic group importance in that the female participants were more selective in which ethnic group they felt warm towards unlike the male participants who felt similar levels of warmth towards Malay, Indigenous, Chinese, and Indians. The male participants were more upfront in asserting pride in their ethnic identity and the right for ethnic groups to maintain their distinctiveness. This analysis of gender differences in ethnic attitudes using a model of behaviour-attitudes-values is eye-opening because it shows that Malaysians can display social interaction behaviour that shows ethnic openness, and somewhat express attitudes that show ethnic openness but at the values level, they are still in the comfort zone of their own ethnic group.