Ethnic Strife: Causes and Effects

 

Ethnic violence is an endemic all around the globe. The purpose is to thwart the progress of one set groups from getting involved into progressive societies in the modern age. As progress and growth have been emphasized by modern democratic forces around the globe. The pity aspect to be noted is that why people are not able to accept the progress and flourishing of fellow citizens of the globe. This creates widespread antagonism and aggrandizement, thereby jeopardizing the growth process of the nation around the globe. The global wars and indigenous wars badly instigate ethnic violence which is no doubt a derogatory phase in the modern political and social growth of the globe. Let me state with my delving issues about the subject in the subsequent paragraphs.

Thus, the term, ethnic violence, is referred to in common parlance as such. That indicates prejudice and hatred towards members of different ethnic groups within the nation, or within the international political frontiers. It is carried on through various ways like physical harm, property damage and finally human genocide.

There are various causes of ethnic violence, among which some of the common ones are stated as such, ethnic nationalism, resource competition, political manipulation, along with various grievances like historical ones destabilizing development process, humanitarian crisis, mass displacement which ends up with threat to international peace.

Other causes of ethnic violence are economic inequality, political exclusion, corruptible infrastructures all around the nation, long standing grievances and finally external provocations. Other causes of ethnic violence are stated in different divisions. These are stated as follow:

1) Structural and political factors:

A)  Weak States- It means that those governments which are corrupt and possess extreme disinclination to maintain law and order. On account of these flaws, there are probable reasons for the occurrence of ethnic violence which ultimately destabilize the growth prospects of the nation.
B)  Political exclusion- This occurs when certain ethnic groups are denied the basic fundamental rights to participate in various political activities which are relevant for the growth of the nation.

C) Vote Bank Politics- There are some political strategies applied for electoral gains. This does not signal positive signals for nation’s growth. That is why due to rusty political gains which ultimately pave the way towards ethnic violence of the nation.

2) Economic factors:

A) Resource scarcity and inequality- It occurs due to lack of proper resources and uneven wealth distribution which accelerates competition and intolerance among ethnic groups which ultimately paves the way towards ethic violence.

B) Economic stagnation and transformation- Lack of economic growth and rapid transformation to market economies is one of the root causes towards the occurrence of ethnic violence.

Types of ethnic violence:

There are different types of ethnic violence known to us, such as secessionist movements, autonomy movements, ethnic cleansing, genocide, riots, terrorism and guerilla warfare.

As already narrated that ethnic violence is of regular occurrence for a pretty long time. All around the globe, ethnic violence occurs frequently. But very recently the Russia Ukraine War, Israeli Lebanon War the Bangladeshi political and social turmoil plus violence in Pakistan has cast upon deep scar in the mind and heart of South Asian citizens.

Though Pakistan has cooled down a bit. There were ethnic clashes in Nepal but that also subsided due to astute administrative capabilities. Within three days of the ethnic coup in Nepal, new interim government was sworn in under the leadership of Mrs Sushila Karki. Now there is complete calm and cool ambience existing in Nepal.  Despite suffering from basic amenities in life, Nepalese citizens are carrying on their life with ease and alacrity.
Judging by the Bangladeshi ethnic violence, it has taken us badly aback that why the ethnic clash in the nation is not subsiding at all. There is no sincere effort on the part of Interim Government under the dynamic leadership of Dr Muhammad Yunus and his erudite teammates to stem the riot. On account of the ethnic clash in Bangladesh, common people are badly heckled and harassed from diverse quarters. This is a glaring example of ethnic violence. The economy is badly shattered and millions of citizens have been homeless with no job. The current situation in the nation has made the citizens jobless and in utterly dire straits of affairs.

Now arriving at the main query about how to stop ethnic violence. There are various ways by which we cannot silence ethnic violence. Among all some of the common ways and means are stated as follow:

Sound governance of a nation.Political actions to nab violence.

Law and order situation.Economic development and setting up new industry.Employment scenes of South Asian Subcontinent should be further improved.

Development of law-and-order situation.

Apart from the above discourses, one point always strikes upon my mind as the world is facing severe ethnic upheavals, there arise the need for sound and tough governance by the concerned nations. The ethnic violence in Bangladesh is till date very worrisome. That is the reason for which ethnic violence in Bangladesh should be silenced soon. If Bangladesh could get rid of ethnic violence in their nation, then peace will automatically bounce back around the globe forever. Provided any unforeseen circumstances does not occur. Previously ethnic violence apart from the above nations, used to occur but due to astute in various other nations of the globe. Even, the closer and cordial nation of Bangladesh, India, had to face the brunt of ethnic violence on several occasion. But the governance of those nations was so tough and tight roped hence did not allow the political parties to take law into their own hand.

At the present juncture, when the motion of development and progress is at its peak, then if ethnic violence occurs in any one nation, then how can we initiate growth and development in our life. That is why it is of utmost relevance to steer Bangladesh out of deep woods. The way Nobel Laureate has dismantled Bangladesh into minutely fragmented granite stone, hence in order to silence Bangladesh, from the scourge of ethnic violence, it is high time for the citizens of this rising nation to axe evil entities from the nation, so that at least peace is restored fast to initiate developmental activities in the nation as well as around the Subcontinent. Economy in Bangladesh and also in India have been badly shattered due to the political stalemate of the immediate past rulers.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
based in Calcutta, India.