Identity Conflict In Myanmar : Political And Social Conflict

Just as we formerly pointed out that “hatred and violence have no sanction in our religious and political traditions,” we also point out that such actions as incite to hatred and violence, however technically peaceful those actions may be, have not contributed to the resolution of our local problems.(372)

Myanmar Follows Global Pattern in How Ethnic Cleansing Begins was written by Amanda Taub. The article discusses how each country is allowed “national self-determination”. Each country was giving this right to protect the very rights it impacts. The article states that self-determination, not only defines the nation but who allowed to be a part of that nation and who doesn’t belong. As the article states, “During times of political upheaval, when national identity comes under pressure and different groups compete for claims to self-determination… [as a result, the outsiders are subject to] mass violence and even genocide.” The article then goes on to describe what a nation is. The author tries to put into perspective that, while “state” can

A newspaper editorial “American Flag Stands for Tolerance” written by Ronald J. Allen, discusses how in the U.S. “a person has the right to express disagreement with government policies”, but in China “citizens who peacefully express disagreement with government policies may be slaughtered” (Allen 18). Utilizing violence, a group of people or a person is susceptible to subjugation by those in power due to the fact that they are different. Observing the statement, one can conclude that this has occurred multiple times throughout history as we view the Holocaust, slavery, or Rwandan Genocide. Irrational violence suspends itself towards those who are vulnerable as an attempt to subjugate them, so they cannot and will not retaliate out of defeat and a feeling of

Definition of ethnic identity and ethnic conflict are important for this paper. Ethnic identities are a subset of identity categories in which eligibility for membership is determined by attributes associated with, or believed to be associated with, descent (described here simply as descent-based attributes) (Chandra, 2006). Ethnic conflict is a competing claim for legitimacy between two or more contending ethnic groups. Ethnic conflict is caused mainly by social and political systems that lead to inequality and grievances. In this paper, we see ethnic conflict as an outcome of colonialism.

In March of 2013, the violence between the two groups only heightened (Staff, 2014). This violence is a result of an incident between a Muslim shopkeeper and a Buddhist shopper over a gold chain. The violence that ensued shortly after led to riots that destroyed shops and resulted in a Buddhist monk being killed. Since the last decade of Myanmar’s history, there has been increasing violence between Muslims and Buddhists. Groups such as the 969, led by a leader also known as the Buddhist Bin Laden (MacGregor, 2013), have formed to repress Muslims in Myanmar. Because the international idea that Buddhists are a strictly pacifist, non-violent ethnic group, people are less learned or educated about the violence and persecution of Muslims in Myanmar.

It’s been argued in the article that religion has been most used when people are denied the right to directly express their own ethnic identity or have to accept an identity other than their own. Militant Islam has become the dominant form of identification and main route of resistance to central government authorities. For instance, Uighurs were Buddhists who converted to Islam. Due to the fact that in the presence of Chinese (Khan) dominations they could not express their ethnic identity, they chose Islam to symbolize and identify them.

For example, during the Islamic revolution, the political landscape was largely defined by suppression, violence, and conflict between fundamentalists and protesters. The authority used religion to justify the edicts and restrictions they established to expunge the moral and cultural “decadence” from society, which in turn suppressed the people and infringed upon their individual rights (4). In response, the people used violence to either support or protest the revolution, depending on the person.

This population faced countless atrocities simply for being of that ethnic group. The actions of Myanmar’s government show the how far extent that persecution against those who differ from the majority can

Ethnic identity remains one of the most extensively studied topics in the social sciences. The book “Studying Ethnic Identity” provides insight into the dynamic process that goes into the formation of ethnic-racial identity by psychological researchers. Ethnic and racial identity is a subject that is important to study because it has been associated with positive well-being, psychological distress, and academic attitudes (Rivas-Drake, Syed, et al, 2014; Smith & Silva, 2011). Past research has tried to define ethnic identity as a link to one’s own ethnic group (e.g. Latino, African American) (Umana-Taylor et al., 2014). This definition has proven to have its limitations, since it it does not take into account within-group variability that might exist among individuals that feel marginalized from their own ethnic group. Early definitions have failed to acknowledge ethnic identity has a multifaceted and complex construct, which this book discusses. Although several studies on ethnic identify have broaden our understanding of outcomes variables after the formation process, there is still limited areas of ethnic identity to investigate.

All three of these authors believe that major violent conflicts are growing increasingly more intense in recent history. Bodley states that these conflicts have grown increasingly common with the formation of state forms of governance. These structures have grown increasingly common, starting about six thousand years ago. This author describes the state structures as being “predatory” in nature (Bodley 1: 1). States began growing to an increasingly larger united human populations. As they grew in size, they require more resources, often more than is present in their current territories (Bodley 2: 5). Bodley also mentions other factors that are responsible for increasing the intensity of violent conflicts. The mindset that comes from ethnocentrism

“Us and Them” by Jerry Muller discusses the pervasive, historical, and growing significance of ethnic nationalism in politics; “Is Ethnic Conflict Inevitable?” contains two responses to Muller’s article by James Habyarimana et. al. and Richard Rosecrance et. al. Muller and his critics reach radically different conclusions the role of ethnic nationalism. Such differences can be explained by their assumptions of ethnic identity formation. The three’s disparities on ethnic conflict result from different theories of identity, namely: Muller to primordialism, Habyarimana to constructivism, and Rosecrance to a rational instrumentalism.

The captivating sound of an indigenous ritual being performed, the quiet sigh of a Dalit, and a sneer from a radical Muslim all have one thing in common: religion caused them. Religion has been around for over thousands of years, and has left a deep impact on all levels of community. Indigenous religions influence local community and its deep bond, Hinduism affects India’s social structure, and radical Islam has had a violent impact on the global community.

When examining the differences between ethnic conflict and genocide one must first analyze the operational definitions. Ethnic conflict can be described as the hatred that forms when two or more cultures reside in the same area and disagree over power distribution (Barkan and Snowden 2008: p.131). This power struggle often begins on a smaller scale, most commonly in the form of a single hate group, and gradually cultivates into a larger one, as in a national or international organization. It often begins as prejudicial views inherited during primary socialization. These negative views often construe distrust for a certain group. When dislike is based upon one’s ethnicity, ethnocentric opinions are formed and lead to stereotyping and discrimination.

“I want to state upfront, unequivocally and without doubt: I do not believe that any racial, ethnic or gender group has an advantage in sound judging. I do believe that every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge, regardless of their background or life experiences” (Sonia Sotomayor). There are so many different ethnic conflicts in the world. Whether it be from the past or sometime recent. Ethnic tensions in the United States include events that happened because of it including the Red Apple boycott, the Crown Heights Riot in 1991, the 1993 killing of five and wounding of 19 on the Long Island railroad, etc.

Culture and ethnic groups have many strict values and principles when it comes to war. Most ethnic groups tend to focus on themselves rather than taking into account the international issues that are occurring. With the advancement of society, these groups often stand by their morals instead of trying to engage in new ones and accepting the worldwide conflicts. More often than not, ethnic groups are discriminated against even after the rise of the concept “All men are created equal”(The Declaration of Independence). Yet, this idea is neglected especially in regards to social status and race. These people have different intentions and repeatedly are being encouraged to blend into American society and leave their values behind. In the past, equality and individual rights were portrayed in an extremely different matter which impacted people's views on freedom today.