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International Relations and Race, Research Paper Example

Pages: 4

Words: 990

Research Paper

Ethnicity has a great impact on the level of nationalism in the given group, therefore, it influences international relations. Eriksen (4) describes the contemporary definition of ethnicity as a type of identification that makes the members of the group feel a part of it, while excluding other groups. The groups distinguish themselves from other groups and have their own culture, social organization. However, he also notes that in contemporary literature, ethnicity is based on historical processes, societies and cultures. As such, it goes against the globalized, modern approach of international politics and supports isolation. (8) The author, therefore, concludes that “ethnicity is an aspect of social relationship between agents who consider themselves culturally distinctive from members of other groups…”. (12) Ethnic classification of a group is based on the distinction of “us” and “them” and exclusion of non-members. This also indicates that ethnicity is relevant to international relations, as well as domestic politics. It can act as a source of conflict in different situations: nationalism against the state (internal ethnic conflicts), nationalism targeting other groups (ethnic violence), nationalism based on ethnic and religious groups.

Reviews of Theoretical Approaches

Theory of Conflict assumes that assumptions about the other group influence the development of conflict. The nature of functional relations between groups determines international relations.(Taylor and Moghaddam 35) This theory, however, assumes that ethnic groups on the international level are interdependent economically and culturally. Rationalist explanations of ethnic conflict are listed by Mirzayev (59). The first approach is based on the “commitment problem”, when the third party leaves its position to guarantee agreements. This happened in the former Yugoslavia. In some rare cases, the weakening of the central (majority) power can result in internal conflict against other ethnic groups or the state itself. The other approach is the “security dilemma” (61), explaining ethnic conflicts as the emergence of anarchy. Based on realist approaches, internal ethnic conflicts can also be explained by politicization of rational fear and the fear of pure uncertainty. As the international system is based on anarchy, there is no central power, only national preferences, collaborations and interests. Mearsheimer (48) indicates that different national states should create institutions on the international level in order to avoid anarchy.

Lake (81) states that the bargaining theory of war is relevant to ethnic internal and international conflicts. The author explains that the Theory of Conflict cannot be used any more to explain international politics, because it is limited to viewing a nation as one, homogenous mass, with equal bargaining power. According to the Bargaining Theory of War, the failure to negotiate an acceptable solution leads to international conflict. And the bargaining power of the nation or different ethnic groups would be based on historical circumstances, commitment and interest of the individual groups. A good example is the role of America in Arabic-Israeli conflict.

Saideman (27) looks at ethnicity from a different aspect. He states that it has a great impact on international relations. The author addresses the question why some ethnic groups get more international support than others. The author concludes that the main influences of support to ethnic groups are domestic policies, ethnic or cultural ties and the level of violence involved in the conflict. The three main approaches the author examines are ethnic politics, vulnerability of the group and realism. And Saideman’s approach can easily be explained by the liberal approach of global international relations today. The emergence of intergovernmental organizations that have the authority to negotiate, decide and intervene as substate actors indicates that internal conflicts are more visible because of the reduced authority of the national state. Liberalism states that a state can have many interest, and – unlike realism – this approach does not assume that all states are homogenous. Indeed,  national interests are changing and there are multiple interests within one state. Moravcsik (516) bases his liberal international theory on three main assumptions: a, individual and private groups are the main actors of international relations, not state governments

b, states only represent the dominant group of the society (not ethnic or other minorities)

c, state behavior is determined by preferences of group interests.

The above review of liberal approaches provides a more valuable explanation of ethnicity’s role in international relations. It does not assume that states are homogenous entities, and also indicates that there are power struggles within the nation states, which is only able to represent the majority group’s interest. When the interest of one oppressed minority group within the state is in line with another nation state’s mainstream (majority) interest, collaboration is created and intervention to represent the ethnic group is likely. For example, a state where the culture, preferences, traditions and goals are the same as an other state’s ethnic group is more likely to support the group. Sherif et al.(12) explains this phenomenon with the functional relations theory between groups. Inter-group relations, therefore, are determinants of international politics and decisions of intervention. Provided that the two or more groups’ interest is the same, they would enter a collaboration. This also leaves the authors with the assumption that international relations are not solely based on the relationship between sovereign states, but groups within states as well.

Works Cited

Eriksen, T. Ethnicity and Nationalism: Antropological Perpectives Pluto Press. 2002

Lake, D. “International Relations Theory and Internal Con?ict: Insights from the Interstices” International Studies Review (2003) 5(4), 81–89

Mearsheimer J. The False Promise of International Institutions. (1994) 19(3) International Security 5–49.

Mearsheimer, J. The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. Norton New York 2001

Mirzayev, S. The Conflicting Theories of Ethnic Conflict: The Case of Nagorno-Karabakh. Hungary, Central European University. 2007

Moravcsik, A. “Taking Preferences Seriously, A Liberal Theory of International Politics” International Organzation, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 513-53, 1997

Saideman, S. “Discrimination in International Relations. : Analyzing External Support for Ethnic Groups” Journal of Peace Research, 2002; 39; 27

Sherif, M., Harvey, O., White, B., Hood, W., Sherif, C. Intergroup Conflict and Cooperation: The Robbers Cave Experiment. 1961.

Taylor, D., Moghaddam, F. Theories of Intergroup Relations: International Social Psychological Perspectives. Greenwood Publishing. 1994

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