ABSTRACT
The world has been host to many civilizations until today. These civilizations and the confrontational structure of human nature have led to conflicts. Mixed communities that formed by civilizations sometimes move towards the same goal and culture but also sometimes have progressed toward to different goals and have turned separations. Before the Cold War ethnic diversity was not the important problem for conflicts. But especially after the Cold War ethnic identity and diversity began to big issue in the world. Ethnic diversity can be considered one of the most important cause of these conflicts. This study will examine the relationship between civil war and ethnic identity/diversity. Then it will examine terms of grievance and greed and their effects on the civil war- ethnicity relationship. And finally, Syria and Spain civil war will be used to corroborate the problem.
Keywords: Civil War, Ethnic Diversity, Grievance, Relative Deprivation, Spain, Syria
INTRODUCTION
Ethnic conflicts have existed in the past 2 centuries. After the French Revolution, the search for ethnic identity has accelerated. 19th century is a century that nationalism approach was to be effective. As a result of World War I, the process of creating a nation-state has accelerated in international relations. The Fourteen Points have contributed to it. For the first time the concept of self-determination was discussed. But this caused some problems from World War I to World War II. It has led to the emergence of movements such as fascism and extreme racism. Ethnic conflicts were before the Cold War but it was not very common. Conflicts in the Cold War era were between blocks.
After the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the concept of ethnic conflicts began to gain a place around the world. On the other hand, ended of Cold War, the rate of civil wars was up to the highest level. Between 1945 and 1999 there have been at least a thousand people died because of wars between 25 countries and 3.33 million people have lost their lives in these wars. In contrast, there have been 122 civil wars during the same period and 16.2 million people in total have died in these conflicts. (Fearon and Lait, 2002).
This study will explain the relationship between ethnic diversity and civil war through these factors.
CIVIL WAR AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY
The case of conflict arises when one or more parties acknowledge that their objectives do not conform with each other. When this case of conflict turns into a state of war, then this status is named as an armed conflict. The non-state parties and rebels that are involved in the civil war defined as armed actors or armed groups. (Marsh 2007) . We can define the civil wars as the wars which are aimed at seizing of the government by different political, religious/denominational, ethnic groups located in the same state or dividing of the country. In order to be considered as a state of civil war, the government must declare the status of the forces that fight against the state as militants and foreign countries should be involved in armed conflict.
By ending the Cold War, it is a known fact that civil wars have been increased. There were many conflicts that suppresses. By the collapsing the Berlin Wall, the ideological war ended and it brought many political issues. This issue has shade so many countries which ethnicity and religion blended. And it caused the civil war in the many countries like Russian Steps and Yugoslavia. (Bağcı, Hüseyin)
IDENTITY- ETHNIC DIVERSITY
Identity is a person’s qualifications which describe him as a human being. The identity can make pressure when other people describes it wrong. There were many identities in the world and this situation causes conflict between minority and society. To find the answer to this issue is today’s challenge. Many trends have happened because of these issues’ outcomes. These minorities have different life conditions, reasons different from the dominant culture. These groups resist the dominant culture homogenize and assimilated. (Erincik Selçuk, 2011)
As undeniable constructive parts of the modern individual, recognition and emergence of the need for showing respect to cultures comprise the acceptance not only among individuals and cultural platform but also in political and legal fields as well.
Ethnical diversity is a central factor in crisis situation. Determinant for pointing a particular ethnic identity, common historical experiences, myths and religious beliefs and so forth, are considered as determining factors that separate one from another. Being exposed to discrimination and political actions that serve for group interests cause this conviction.
Many studies suggest that ethnic differences usually play a role in the situation of a crisis or war. The ones that fight generally believe that the cause is an ethnic problem. Ethnic diversity effect prominently in the regions where sociological and historical origins are deep-rooted and increased sentiments like nationalism and countries that are open to the exploitation and dependent on foreign countries. Because, the countries and the communities, which are being exploited and deteriorated with sentiment of nationalism, are more prone to get distracted to favorable side.
CIVIL WAR- IS THE ETHNIC DIVERSITY A REASON?
In the previous sections, we examined what the ethnic diversity and civil war. And this section we will explain several reasons and their relationships with ethnic diversity and civil war. We will try to impasse of civil war-ethnic diversity.
First question is ‘’Is that ethnic diversity affects the civil war?’’ and if it affects the civil war, why and how?
Several factors are effective for relationship between ethnic diversity and civil war. when one or more of these factors occur, civil war occurs. Some of these factors are democracy, economy, foreign intervention, political stability, othering, relative deprivation.
One of the reason is foreign intervention. Looking at today, we see that civil war easily transcends their borders. Spread of ethnic wars caused the international crisis and wars. Because regional crisis causes foreign intervention and this situation brings global crisis and wars. Another factor is the problem of failed states. (Carmen and James, 1996). When the state did not dominate on the country as political and mechanism, crises are growing faster.
In 1992-1995s, EU, NATO and the UN has intervened to wars that occurred between Croatian and Bosnian Muslims and Serbs. And then, it turned into a global crisis. Or India has intervened to conflict that occurred between Sri Lanka and Tamil ethnic minority. And it turned into civil war because of this intervention.
When we look as a general framework, we can collect problem of identity/ethnicity under the ‘’grievance’’. According to this view, when groups don’t have goals of political, social and cultural the possibility of conflict increases. Because to protect ethnic identity, to be able to freely express it, to live with this identity are a need. The restriction of democratic rights and freedoms, human rights violations and not integration between system and group are other some of the grievances. On the other hand, should be formed certain conditions for ethnic groups enter armed conflict. First it is necessary to be aware of their common identity of individuals belonging to ethnic groups. They must see themselves different as language, culture, history. The group that felt different himself can enter othering progress and it can cause crisis.
According to Ted Robert Gurr (1986), ethnic identity may lead to request to have certain characteristics. If the person is unable to his requests as they wish, this situation causes frustration and aggression for him. This will cause relative depri
vation. According to this theory, if a person feels own identity, himself, lifestyle under pressure by other identities, and if he in the minority, othering progress starts. If minority ethnic groups do not have same right with majority relative deprivation occurs. But if they few in number, conflict may not happen. Especially, places that managed by dictatorship, this situation can be suppressed without being converted into a civil war. But the high number of ethnic groups, are susceptible to conflict. But it still needs certain conditions to occur: organization, economic conditions, supporting people as financially and morally and etc. These people may state. Wars do not occur without these factors and war does not continue without them.
On the other side, we can show several factors for civil war such as democracy, political stability, economic problems. We will consider two periods to understand. They are 1980s and 1990s.
According to studies on this area, 80s and 90s gives different results. Firstly, when we look the 80s, we see democracy is not important issue for civil wars. Because in these periods economic crisis was more important. If a state is a very rich or very poor, it means less civil conflict or political issue. Because if you are poor you don’t have power of initiate conflict or if you are rich, a conflict could be too costly as economic and political. Ethnic diversity and democratization were not important.
In the 1990s, economic issues were not a big problem for civil wars. Being rich or being poor have not affected the civil war contrary to 1980s. In these times, democratization was important. Democratization and the beginning of the democratization have reduced civil war. Namely, to spread democracy was an important step for reducing civil conflict.
SPAIN CIVIL WAR
RELATIVE DEPRIVATION- BASK QUESTION
It is important to first look at the status of Spain before its internal crisis, before proceeding to the reasons of the war. The major reasons for Spain’s unstable condition during pre-war were successive changing of governments and economic distress during II. Republican Period. Especially, the working class is hungry.
Reconstruction of Spain’s place in new two-poled world order and putting an end to Republican ruling objectives that were carried by Falange party which was supported by General Francisco Franco and right wing, had been effective. It can be said that Franco carried a concern to take a place in one of the poles of the world. ( GÖKŞENLİ Ebru Yener, 2012)
To summarize the civil war briefly, the left-wingers lost the election that held in November 1933 everywhere. This time, right-wingers in power began to work for their benefits and against left-wingers. They began to imprison left-wingers due to various excuses, and laid them off. After all these actions, the country literally was heading for a chaos. The right-wing reactions were exacerbating the left-wing actions. In October 1934, miners in Austrias revolted and about 3000 people died in conflicts. Looting began in the country. During these developments, left-wingers won the election that was held in February 1936 and Azana formed a Popular Front government. All left-wingers were released from prisons and right-wingers were imprisoned. Army failed an attempt of a coup which was led by Chief of General Staff Francisco Franco and he was appointed as the governor of the Canary Islands.
In July 1936, someone named Castillo from the left-wing was murdered and when the left-wingers murdered Monarchist Conservative Calvo Satelo of Primo Rivera Finance Minister, troops in Spanish Morocco revolted in July 17th of 1936 and this uprising spreaded over into southern Spain. General Franco came from the Canary Islands and took over the uprising. Thus, the Spanish Civil War broke out.
Once the civil war began, peasants, workers in the city, communists and anarchists have joined the Republicans. In contrast, all of the officers in army, agrarian elite and church’s clergymen have joined the nationalists.
Basque nationalism was born in the 19th century because of industrialization, migration and urbanization. Basque is an industrial region and it has led to the migration flows. This situation has created the danger of extinction of the Basques. Arana has established Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) which one of the most important political actors in the Basque region because of that. The important development was Spanish Civil War between nationalist and republican groups in Spain. Because this civil war has threatened the autonomy of the region. The war began with the uprising of Nationalist forces against the Republicans. Basques have been involved against Franco in this war. The civil war that continued three years and led to the big destruction has resulted in the victory of nationalist that Franco was leadership. As a result of this war, the dictatorship era began.
In this period, Franco has created a pressure on all ethnic groups in Spain. Some prohibitions were brought to people and they lost many their rights. For example, it is forbidden to use a language other than Spanish and regional leaders were punished. Basque is the group that most affected by these sanctions. In response to these sanctions, the ETA has been established. The organization has carried out only propaganda activities until 1961.
SYRIA AND CIVIL WAR
Syria was an Ottoman territory before World War I, after Ottoman Empire lost the war it was occupied by French and then mandated by French starting from 1920. French governed Syria based on full ‘divide and rule’ policy. Within this framework, Lebanon, as Syria’s historical part, was declared an independent state in September 1st of 1920. Shortly after, the states based in Damascus and Aleppo were established. Those two states combined in 1922 to form Syrian Federation and then named Syria State in 1925. (Yılmaz, Muzaffer Ercan, 2011) Meanwhile, in 1922 an Alevi State was established where the dense Alevi population lived and between the years of 1922-1941 the Druze people in Jabal Druz region gained autonomy. Syria was under French ruling between the years of 1920-1946, and after World War II it reunited the political units except Lebanon and became an independent country with those current borders. But after independence, political instability and coups d’etat had affected deeply. First Shukri el-Kuwatli coup in 1949 than in 1963 under the influence of country’s problems, Baath Party got strengthened with socialism expressions inside, Pan-Arabism on the outside and overthrown the pro-Nasser Syrian government with a military coup and country’s leadership has passed to Baath Party. And this party still continues with Assad process.
In Syria, an uprising began against Bashar al-Assad in March 2011. Bashar al-Assad came after his father's death. Bashar al-Assad was known as egalitarian and reformist. But he has responded very hard to Syria extension of Arab Spring. Dissidents were organized under the name of Free Syria and They began to clash with Assad's army. The West and Gulf, supported the dissidents and Iran, China and Russia supported the Bashar al-Assad. And conflict both turned into civil war and has become an international problem. According to United Nation data, more than 140,000 people have lost their lives and at least 2.5 million people have migrated out of Syria as refugees.
Syria civil war explained by grievance. The Arab Spring has led to voice their complaints for people through organizations. On the other hand, identity has been effective in conflict to turn into war.
Family of Assad is Alevi. And according to claims, Assad army consisted majority of Alevis. Problems in Syria began because of the lack of democratic rights and freedoms. Namely, main reason was not ethnicity, it was ideological. Many groups such as Christians, Alevis, Kurds
and Turkmens supported the Assad. But, this situation changed over time. Militants of the radical Islamic group that entered Syria disturbed Alevis, Kurds and Turkmens. Then it turned into fear of the future and ethnic problem. So, a security dilemma occurred between ethnic groups. The current situation has changed and occurred survival problem for ethnic groups in Syria.
Among the population that rebelled in Syria, there are groups with their specific expectations. For example, some religious groups demand more religious state and look for these riots as opportunities for a transformation. Indeed, in anti-government demonstrations some Sharia slogans have been shouted. On the other hand, extreme nationalists have sought to be able to establish a government that is more against the West and Israel. The minorities that could not find their place in the system, demand their rights to be recognized in universal standards and carried into effect. Looters and gangs that are opportunistic of this chaos can also be added to all this. As a result, the group of people who rebel in Syria do not form a homogenous group. Some general expectations and different expectations from diverse segments are relevant as well.
In short, there was a grievance because of lack of democracy and people came together against Assad but after the war identity was an important problem because of organizations created by organizations.
CONCLUSION
Civil wars cause more deaths than international war. They cause issues between states and interventions. For this reason, it is important for world politics today. They are two important reason for civil war. They are ‘’greed’’ and ‘’grievance’’. When we look the grievance we see ethnicity, democracy, rights and freedoms as important issues. Under the grievance we said relative deprivation. According to this view, there is an inequality between groups it may conflicts. Especially ethnic identity causes civil war or conflicts when we look with this approach. Spain can be an example relative deprivation. Extreme attitudes can cause the othering. In Spain, ETA has occurred because of ethnic oppressions. Syria can be an example for grievance. Because there was a lack of democracy and people came together against Assad. On the other hand, we talked about democracy, economics, politics and several things effects the ethnic diversity.
When we look briefly ethnic identity does not cause a war alone. But it can trigger violence. The ethnic diversity can turn into civil war because of some factors such as economic and social inequalities, the violation of the rights of minorities, political discrimination, polarization of society as ethnicity.
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