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“Role of State, Elite and Media in National Integration”

Course Name: Ethnicity, Religion and Politics. Course no:601

11/9/2014 Submitted by : Baha Uddin Roll:156, Section:”B” Email: emondu156@gmail.com Session:2011-2012 Department of Political Science, Dhaka University.

Submitted to: Dr.Dil Rowshan Zinnat Ara Nazneen,

Professor, Department of Political Science, Dhaka University .

2

Abstract

In human societies, there are multiple diverse of identities and interest, including class, race,

gender, caste, religion, and ethnicity. Above all these varieties, we have witnessed the growth of

nation states and different countries through the world. Whenever the issue of establishing a

nation state or a county come up then the national integration becomes a burning question. In

most multiethnic developing countries, the state, media, and civil society attempt to play crucial

role in managing ethnic tensions and integrating diverged ethnicities. In this study I will focus on

the role of state, media and civil society in national integration.

Contents 3

Introduction 3

Definition of national integration 5

National integration’s principles 5

Process of national integration 6

Role of state in National Integration 8

Role of elite in national integration 9

Role of media in national integration 10

Evaluation 11

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Introduction:

The term national integration is often used simultaneously with nation building, democratization,

modernization, political development, post conflict reconstruction and peace building. The

concept of national integration came to be used mainly among American political scientists after

Second World War1, to describe the greater integration of state and society, as citizenship

brought loyalties to the modern nation state with it. National integration argues that the state has

to manage centrifugal tendencies derived from the forces of ethnicity and nationalism, and

moves towards constructing the framework of national identity. National integration stands for

mutual tolerance in politics, social, cultural aspects that can be brought by strategic role of state,

media and civil society’s contribution.

Definition of national integration:

It is the process of uniting groups with different backgrounds into one entity which is bound by

common norms, values and interest.

According to Bowen J.R

“In many plural societies the development of nationhood had to contend with the strong

presence of diverse ethnic communities. When a unity will prevail upon these, a nation will be

integrated” 2

According to Stephen

“The notion of national integration is a nation which had become consolidated among various

ethnic groups and come up into one belongingness”3

According to Myron Weiner

“National integration is a process of together culturally and socially separated groups into a

single territorial unit and the establishment of nation identity”4

1 Reinhard,b. ”Nation building and citizenship” Barkley: University of California press-1977,chapter3,p.30

2 Bowen J R, “The myth of global ethnic conflict” journal of democracy-7(4),1996,page.3-14

3 Stephen C, “nation building” retrived-octobor25, 2011.

4 Myron Weiner, ”Modernization; the Dynamics of Growth” New York,1966.page-164

4

According to Mah H L,

“National Integration is a socio-physiological and educational process through which a feeling

of unity, solidarity and cohesion develops in the hearts of the people and a sense of common

citizenship or feeling of loyalty to the nation is fostered”5

National integration has been viewed by Weiner as follows:

(1) A process of bringing together culturally and socially discreet groups into a single

territorial unit and the establishment of a national identity.

(2) The process of establishing a national, central authority over subordinate political

units and regions which may or may not coincide with distinct cultural or social groups.

(3) The problem of binding Government with Government; and

(4) The problem of evolving the minimum value consensus necessary to maintain a

social order, referring either to the norms and processes to be accepted or to the goals to be

achieved.

Own View:

National integration is a process by which divisive people and culture are synthesized into a

unified whole. It is a process of harmony, common identity and above all national consciousness.

It consolidates all the diverse loyalties into one national unity. Nation and national consideration

overpower all other sectarian, regional and communal considerations involving the development

of common feeling of unity, solidarity and cohesion in the hearts of people, a sense of common

citizenship and a feeling of loyalty to the nation. In a word it means unity in diversity.

5 Mah Hui Lim, ”Affirmative action, ethnicity and integration: Case Malaysia” journal of ethnic and racial

studies.vol-8,Philadelphia-1985,page-250

5

For example:

The effort to be united among Sabah, Sarawak and peninsular of Malaysia into a federation, is an

attempt of achieving national integration.6

In our country, the attempt of uniting between Bangles and indigenous ethnic groups in

Chittagong Hill Tracts is consider as an effort for national integration.

National integration involves following principles:

Nation and national loyalty supersedes all other types of loyalties such as caste,

religion, region etc.

National integration is to be viewed as a sea into which the diverse rivers of culture

flow.

National integration is a comprehensive process which includes cultural as well as

political integration. Political integration is maintained by safeguarding administrative unity,

universal legal system, protection of states territory etc. Cultural integration is achieved through

reconciliation and mutual consensus of diverse groupings, religions, values etc.

It does away with divisive forces and disintegrating tendencies.

In a plural society, it requires ideological goals such as secularism and democracy.

National integration includes nation-building and State-building which means doing away with

the boundaries which divide the society on tribal communal, racial, castes, linguistic or regional

lines on the one hand and territorial integrity which implies the absence of secessionist and

separatist forces on the other.

Process of national integration:

There are five ways for national integration and this are-

(1) Segregation

(2) Accommodation

(3) Acculturation

(4) Assimilation

(5) Amalgamation.

6 Brayan k Ritche “Politics and Economic Reform in Malaysia “The William Davidson institute working paper,no-

655,2014,p-3.

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Segregation: separation of populations those who are not homogenous throughout a defined

space. It is generally outlawed, but may exist through social norms; it is suggested by Thomas

Schelling's models of segregation and subsequent work.7

Accommodation: It seeks to ensure each ethnic group has the public space necessary to express

its identity, make its own decisions in areas of critical importance, and to protect itself against

the majority.8

Assimilation: People of different backgrounds and beliefs undergo assimilation when, through

living together, they come to see themselves as a part of a larger community, or when a small

group is absorbed into, and made part of, a bigger group.

Acculturation: It refers adapting to a new culture.

Amalgamation: In general, it is the process of combining or uniting multiple entities into one form.

Role of state in National Integration

State is the greatest political organization that plays a vital role in national integration within its

territory. Due to the composition of various identities (race, religion, language and customs) of

state is divided into major ethnic groups, each with its respective racial, religion, linguistic and

cultural identities.

These distinct ethnic divisions in the country not only affect the formation of the state and but

also its policy agenda.

In this situation, it has drawn the state into the role of integrating and managing ethnic tension

arising from contestations among major ethnic groups.

7 Thomas C. Schelling “Models of segregation", American Economic Review, 1969, 59(2),page. 488–493

8 McGarry, J.and B. O’Leary. “Federation as a Method of Ethnic Conflict Regulation”. In Power Sharing: New

Challenges for Divided Societies. London: Pluto Press, 2005,page-42

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Introducing national identities and ideologies:

Identify crisis is the main obstacle to the path of national integration. A state can introduce some

ideologies by which a sense of national identity will create. For example a state can launch -

Ideology to be loyal to the king and country

Nobleness of the constitution

Sovereignty of the law

Definite citizenship

Secularism etc

Attempt for political integration:

Every man is political and none out of this. To create just an integrated nation. The state must

have to concern with political integration for the ethnic groups. State has to ensure political

participation of ethnic groups. State can introduce some privileges to protect the political rights

and political participation.

Launching new economic policy:

Harmonious economic policy helps to accelerate national integration. The ethnic preferential

economic policy can be practiced by the state. Moreover state has to ensure land ownership and

rights to land for the ethnic groups’ o the country. The state can introduce industrial co-

ordination act for the ethnic groups. In Malaysia, the govt. has taken new economic policy to

reduce the economic disparity between Malay and Chinese9.

Proclamation of constitutional recognition:

Constitutional recognition for the various ethnic groups can bring national integration. In most of

countries, where ethnic tension prevail the state play vital role by recognizing them

constitutionally. In our country, we can see that the state has taken steps like constitutional

recognition.

9 M Shamsul Haque, “ The role of the state in managing ethnic tension in Malaysia” American Behavioral Scientist,

Vol-44, No-3; Singapore, 2003, page-248

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Introducing Quota system for minority groups:

In some countries, we can see that the ethnic groups are leg behind as they are minor. In this

situation a crisis groups for national integration. To mitigate this government can introduce quota

system to mix up minor ethnic groups into mainstream. State can launch quota in education,

public services and in governmental facilities for the ethnic groups.

Arranging treaty between govt. and ethnic groups:

The state can play role via arranging treaty between govt. and various groups. In many countries

national integration has been come up by this process. In our country we have seen such an

attempt that was between government and indigenous groups.

Taking national, cultural and educational policy:

National, cultural and educational policy can be taken by the state. By this way the ethnic groups

of the country can be cultured and assimilated. It helps to come up minority groups and integrate

with main stream.

Creating Ministry of National Unity:

Government may establish the ministry of national unity. It will helps increase public

expenditure to the ethnicity groups. This ministry will take initiatives for the accommodation of

various ethnic groups. It will protect their rights. For example, in Malaysia the government has

taken this policy.

These were all about the role of state in national integration.

Role of Elite in National integration

The term Elite is originally from the Latin, eligere, which means "to elect". The elites are a

relatively small dominant group within a large society, which enjoys a privileged status in

comparison to other individuals’ status in the society. There are various elite groups in society

those who have explicit and implicit role in national integration. And these are-

1. Political elite

2. Business elite

3. Professional elite

4. Education elite

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Role of political elite:

Political elite are those who are involving in politics can play role by patronizing the rights of

indigenous groups. They play role in decision making process by this way they coerce

government to take decision regarding the consolidation of various indigenous groups. They

represent the peoples those who are indigenous. Hence they can realize the opinion of ethnic

groups and take decision according to this, which bring the national integration. Bureaucrats,

ministers and parliament members can influence the diversity towards national integration. They

may eradicate the political ideologies for nation integration.

Role of business elite:

Elite view and its constitution as a means to develop or effective and integrated economic

market that result in more significant and unified international political actor while mass public

are more concern with social policies that import them more directly. They may play role by

providing money toward various ethnic groups those who are economically backward. They

finance in national integration programs.

Role of Educational elite:

They have important role in perspective of different issues of the state. Sometimes communal

riot emerge in multiethnic country. On that time they play role as intellectual to mitigate the

problem. Educational elite have enough intelligence and help to bring any revolutionary change

in the state, where t he ethnic groups of state are assimilated with the mainstream. The elite

provide intelligence to the ethnic groups by which the national integration is easily attained.

They can create pressure on government to take proper steps for national integration.

Role of professional elite:

Professional elite can play role in national integration through reducing mass gap between poor

and affluent. Professional can bring the minority to combine with main stream. Religious,

cultural and linguistic tolerance can bring national integration. Various Professional play roles on

their profession perspective. Religious professional are play in religious harmony, cultural elite

are trying to acculturation, and educational elite are providing knowledge towards national

integration.

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Role of Media in National Integration:

Moulding the public opinion:

The media which enjoys utmost freedom of expression, has a great and vital role to play

in moulding public opinion on correct lines in regard to the need of friendly and relations

between various communities and religious groups and thus promote national solidarity.

The role of media in communally tense situations is to be peacemakers and not abettors,

to be trouble-shooters and not troublemakers

Moulding feelings and sentiments:

Journalists and columnists owe a very special responsibility to their country in promoting

communal peace and amity. Their writings are not a mere reflection of their own feelings

but help to large extent in moulding the feelings and sentiments of the society at large. It

is, therefore, of utmost importance that they use their pen with circumspection and

restrain. By the way national integration is quite possible.10

Broadcasting the impact of disintegration:

Giving community-wise figures of the victims of communal riot, or writing about the

incident in a style which is likely to inflame passions, aggravate the tension, or accentuate

the strained relations between the communities/religious groups concerned, or which has

a potential to exacerbate the trouble, shall be avoided.

Influencing the government regarding the rights of indigenous:

Media is the only means through which the government of country will be influenced. Whenever

the government bypass the rights of ethnic groups only that time the disintegration come up. On

this situation media has to focus the rights of ethnic groups and has to influence government

regarding this.

10

“Role of media in Communal Harmony” National Foundation for Communal Harmony, New Delhi2012,p-54.

The Mass Media is a unique feature of modern society. The mass media basically comprises

the print media, like newspapers, magazines and the electronic media consisting traditionally of

the television and radio, along with which are now also added the internet and mobile

telephones.

Without media, it’s hard to formulate public opinion about any issue, and it’s impossible to have

an issue resolved. Media has this magical ability to project a common culture and gives people

from varied backgrounds a unique sense of togetherness. There are various ways by which media

play important role in national integration. Here I described the role of media -

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Patronizing the communal amity:

Media for national integration means to promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among

the individuals and various ethnic groups. It can play a pivotal role by patronizing communal

amity in different occasion of different religious, racial and ethnic groups. It contributes to

eradicate indigenous discrimination through encouraging them to participate in different fest of

main stream.

Arranging program for integration:

In modern times we can see that media is playing role in various aspects including national

integration by arranging different programs. Media can arrange tolkshow, answering and

questioning session, inviting governmental official sessions which will national integration

oriented. By this way people will know the importance of national integration.

Focusing the deprived groups:

In a country where there are multi diversity of community and ethnic groups, in this country the

minority groups are always deprived, which creates animosity with government. That is why the

media can protect the rights of minority by focusing them as well as empowering them.

Influencing on public policy for integration:

Media is the great influential factor in making public policy. It has to emphasis on governmental

public policy to the national integration orientation. It can ensure the participation of ethnic

groups in public policy implementation.

Evaluation:

Above the national integration is an integral as well as part and parcel in nation and state

building. That is why in a multiethnic diverged country, the state itself, media and elite

contribute a crucial role in national integration. Here I discussed the role of them and they are

playing role in national integration. All of these actors work as torch bearer of national

integration. If we see from the perspective of our country, these three forces are try at their level

best to moves towards national integration although it had some lacking with the beginning. But

in other countries the cumulative efforts of these actors led to the peak of national integration.

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