Ethnic Conflicts in Kosovo and Afghanistan, Essay Example

Introduction

This paper describes the ethnic conflicts that resulted from the wars in Kosovo and Afghanistan. The analysis of Afghanistan being somewhat easier because the issues are more readily understood to Americans. Kosovo and the Balkan war was more complicated and the issues more internal to a struggle for independence from a dominate, oppressive Serbian regime.

Afghanistan

The ethnic troubles in Afghanistan have become more complex since the end of the cold war and the soviet military intervention in Afghanistan. The country has a very diverse ethnic background with the Pashtun tribe being dominant. The religious movement of the Pashtun is the Taliban and they have used the divisions to try and impose harsh Islamic rule on the people. This has widened the divisions between the minority groups like Hazara, Tajik and Uzbek people. The Taliban leaders were verterans of the Mujahideen who formed the backbone of the resistance against the Soviets. They profess a jihad or religious war against all infidels occupying their country.  The agenda of the Taliban is re-unification of the country, a return to Islamic Sharia law, centralised political system and demilitarisation of the people.  They wish to impose their brand of Pashtun rule over the nine other ethnic groups in the country.  The current occupying forces that are currently supporting the existing Afghan Government are therefore viewed as invaders by the Taliban and this has resulted in a prolonged period of confrontation to oust the Taliban and prevent them from procuring power in the country.  The Taliban have also sponsored terrorism as part of their campaign and have strong links with groups like Al Qaida. (Rais, R.B. 1999)

Kosovo

This is a conflict between the Serb Minority who held power and the 90% Albanian majority who refused the country the rights of independence. Serbia has long held that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia. The Albanians have always refused to participate in elections in Kosovo, as they do not recognise Serbian power; this made it difficult for the Albanians to gain power. This came to a head in 1993 with the formation of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) and the creation of a conflict between Kosovo and Serbia that needed international intervention. Today the support for Kosovo independence has a fragile peace supervised by NATO forces and remains an area of tension between the two ethnic factions (Belleau, M. 2010)

Works Cited

Belleau, M. (2010). Characteristics of ethnic conflicts: The case of Kosovo. Montreal: University of Quebec.

Rais, R. B. (1999). Conflict in Afghanistan: Ethnicity, Religion and Neighbours. London: Ethnic Studies Report, Vol XVii, No 1.