Философия / 2. Социальная философия

prof. Oleg Danilyаn, prof. Alexander Dzeban

Yaroslav the Wise National Low University, Ukraine

ETHNIC CONTRADICTIONS IN THE MODERN WORLD AND WAYS OF THEIR REGULATION

In recent decades there has been a global rise of nationalist movements, ideologies, religious movements, often accompanied by a sharp aggravation of inter-ethnic (ethnic) conflict, which sometimes are resolved in bloody conflicts. Of particular concern is the aggravation of inter-ethnic relations in many countries of the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. It is known that the regions of uncontrolled political disintegration remain elevated «seismic» for decades, if not centuries. This is evidenced by the historical experience of the collapse of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires, who turned the Balkans into a «powder keg» of Europe. It is no accident heightened attention given in recent ethnic tensions and conflicts.

The main essential feature of ethnic conflicts is the presence of a special subject of these relationships — nations, peoples, and in the broadest sense — the ethnic group. Currently in the world, according to various sources, there are between 2 and 3 thousand different ethnic groups. Some of them set up their own mono-ethnic states such as Austria, Norway, Japan. Other ethnic groups have formed, or are the part of multi-ethnic states such as India, China, Russia, Ukraine and others.

Studying of ethnic conflicts on the essential level involves identifying not only their content and some of the features, but also the sources of emergence and exacerbation.

All contradictions and conflicts in interethnic relations are caused by a complex of objective and subjective reasons.

In broad terms, ethnic tensions are due to the uneven distribution between ethnic groups the whole amount of wealth and resources of the particular country, and the inequality of their political, economic, cultural and other statuses. In any society, as we know, absolute equality (between ethnic groups, in particular) is not possible even in theory.

  Firstly, the individual nations vary in size, and therefore even ceteris paribus larger ethnic groups occupying through their «representatives» dominant position in the power structure, have a decisive impact on the socio-political and cultural processes in society, decision-making process. Thus, the dominant ethnic group defines the legal status of other ethnic groups, as well as the conditions for admission of their representatives to power. Such conditions may include: loyalty to the existing government, the dominant ethnic group, the state language, educational qualifications, etc.

Secondly, the territory inhabited by ethnic groups differ in geographical location, the degree of availability of natural resources and other natural factors that favor or, on the contrary, hinder the development of production and the accumulation of certain types of wealth. Any measures for the redistribution of the social product among different ethnic groups living in multi-ethnic state, often leads to the notion that this ethnic group is feeding the other ethnic groups that the problems of a particular ethnic group due to unfair attitude of the central government to him, which is dominated by other ethnic groups, etc.

Thirdly, the objective reasons that constantly affect interethnic relations, are: past relations among peoples (wars, raids, former political domination and subordination); religious, linguistic, psychological and other differences of peoples.

Fourthly, to objective reasons ethnic conflicts can also be considered: a) territorial — the character of the historic settlement of peoples, as well as the discrepancy between the ethnic boundaries with the boundaries of existing states; b) the state-legal — in fact unequal political status of ethnic groups in the political system of the state and other.

In other states the causes of critical ethnic conflicts were sharply intensified migration from the «poor» South to the «rich» North. They have changed considerably, in a number of countries, such as Germany, France, Sweden, the ratio of indigenous and came here as a result of migration, causing fear among the indigenous population to preserve their national identity.

Fears for their national identity are there in sub-ethnic groups in many countries, even in an advanced stage of development. This is the problem of Basques in Spain, the Flemish in Belgium, Northern Irish and Scots in the United Kingdom. Modern society is characterized by a desire for national homogeneity, from here contrary to the objective trend to economic integration ethnic conflicts arise.

Subjective causes of ethnic conflicts are the causes related to the mistakes and miscalculations of leadership in national politics, leaving the decision of ethnic problems. An example of such voluntarist «solutions» of ethnic conflicts is the policy of the USSR. This was mass deportations of entire peoples, and their attempts of forced assimilation and repression of the national intelligentsia. Global development experience strongly suggests that the best way to resolve and prevent ethnic conflicts is not an armed conflict, but their harmonization.

Ways to harmonize interethnic contradictions are in recognition of the need for acceptance of the principles of national policy, developed by the international community; principles which are not contested by any civilized state, a social movement. Among them, the most important are:

1) the principle of self-determination of peoples;

 2) territorial integrity of states; determination by the people their domestic political status, without external interference;

3) the leveling of social and economic development and support of relatively equal living conditions of ethnic groups of multinational states;

4) the priority of human interests over national interests;

5) providing by multinational states rights and fundamental freedoms of national minorities;

6) the democracy of international relations;

7) the fight against all forms of racial and ethnic hatred and xenophobia.