Ethnicity and Nationhood AP Human Geography. Ethnicity Reviewed As we previously discussed,...

Ethnicity and NationhoodAP Human Geography

Ethnicity Reviewed

As we previously discussed, ethnicity refers to the cultural background of a group of people, as opposed to race, which refers to physical/ biological background.

Therefore, people of the same ethnic group may have the same religion, language, customs/ traditions, clothing, music/ art, clothing, etc.

Ethnicity and Nationality

Cultural similarities within an ethnic group typically lead to a strong sense of togetherness and unity.

In an effort to preserve their culture, many ethnic groups seek self-determination, which is the right to self-government.

When an ethnic group becomes a country, they become known as a nationality.

Multiple ethnicities within a country can lead to conflict and in many cases, violence.

What is a nation-state?

Ethnic groups may seek to create a nation-state, which is a country dominated by one ethnicity.

Essentially, the boundaries of a country are drawn around an ethnic group.

This allows an ethnic group to govern themselves based on their own values and culture.

Examples: Japan, most of Europe, Israel, former Yugoslavia

Where are the nation-states?

Japan: A Nation State

Multi-Ethnic State

A multi-ethnic state is any country with many different ethnic groups living in its borders.

Typically, these groups co-exist peacefully, but sometimes ethnic groups want to break away and form their own states.

Examples: USA!, Russia

Russia: A Multi-Ethnic State

Multi-National State

A state made up of two or more nations (ethnic groups) with self- determination.

Ex. United Kingdom, made up of England, Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland

The UK: A Multi-Nation State

Stateless Nation

An ethnic group/ nation with no country of it’s own.

Often spread over many countries.

Ex. Palestinians, Kurds

The Kurds: A Stateless Nation

Centripetal vs. Centrifugal Forces

Centripetal (towards the center)

Anything that unites a country

Nationalism (pride) Songs, flags

Same lang/ religion/etc.

Sports

Common history

Strong leader/ government

Centrifugal (away from the center)

Anything that divides a country

Cultural differences

Weak central government

Regional over national pride

Yugoslavia and Balkanization

The former Yugoslavia is an excellent example of a multi-ethnic country that broke apart into many smaller nation-states.

Where? Balkan Peninsula (SE Europe, north of Greece)

When? Yugoslavia was created after WWI.

Who? Many ethnic groups, inc. Bosnians, Albanians, Croats, Serbians, Slovenes. Also, different religions (Christianity, Islam) and languages.

On paper, a recipe for conflict.

Yugoslavia and Balkanization

Yugoslavia was held together by a strong dictator (centripetal force), Joseph (Josip) Tito from 1953-1980.

Tito kept the various ethnic/ religious group from fighting each other.

After Tito’s death in 1980, various groups began fighting for power and land, resulting in war and genocide (ethnic cleansing)

The break up of a state into many smaller states based on ethnic divisions is known as balkanization.

Today, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herz, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Macedonia are all independent nation-states.

Yugoslavia pre-1991

The Former Yugoslavia (Balkans) Today