Ethnic Conflict

Question 1

Stefan Wolff

Answer 1

there are no automatics that lead from the existence of different ethnic groups to violent conflicts between them

Question 2

definition of ethnicity

Answer 2

specific to time, place, and culture in which it is constructed, and to the individuals shaping its meaning

Question 3

1938 Munich Agreement

Answer 3

1. four signatory states agreed to abandon minority protection provided for by Paris Peace Treaties in favour of rearranging borders of Europe along ethnic lines
2. one-sided expulsions under German occupation and chain of ethnic cleansing linking several countries in Nazi-ruled Europe were unprecedented

Question 4

1942: British revocation of Munich Agreement

Answer 4

1. symbolised turn away from appeasement and promised to restore integrity of Czechoslovakia
2. also agreed “transfer” of large part of German minority in Czechoslovakia

Question 5

post-WW2 Allies determined to create homogenous nation-states in entire larger region of East Central Europe

Answer 5

12m Germans, millions of Poles, and many Ukrainians, Byelorussians, and Hungarians shifted around Europe

Question 6

1945: Soviet Union allowed return of most Hungarian refugees to Transylvania

Answer 6

1. Stalin as ruthless tactician
2. matter of power politics: harder to stabilise regimes and establish Communist state when millions of uprooted people in streets

Question 7

Treaty of Neuilly

Answer 7

1. set precedent in both international law regulations and practice execution of “population exchange”
2. provided for minority populations on either side of Greek-Bulgarian border to change places
3. ethnic homogenisation by means of forced emigration was coupled with demographics transformation by means of purposeful settlement

Question 8

Treaty of Lausanne

Answer 8

1. marked turning point by lifting constraints on geographic range of ethnic cleansing
2. provided for ethnic cleansing of two entire nation-states
3. formalised the policy of population exchange as a legitimate diplomatic solution to domestic issues
4. made permanent the exodus of Christians from Turkey (1.5m), and initiated the new exodus of Muslims from Greece (350,000)

Question 9

ethnic nationalism

Answer 9

1. describes the ways in which the “nation” is defined in terms of ethnicity: by a shared heritage, common language, common faith, and common ethnic ancestry
2. new postwar governments sought to rationalise and control societies by making them ethnically homogenous and fully responsive to the needs and goals of the dominant nationality

Question 10

Yugoslavia

Answer 10

1. 1980: death of Josip Broz Tito created vacuum, constituent republics became important power centres
2. mid-1980s: Milosevic began to reassert Serb power in Kosovo and Vojvodina, exploited opportunity
3. rise of Serbian nationalism motivated by fear of marginalisation and discrimination
4. Milosevic as central catalyst: political entrepreneur willing to manipulate ethnic identity and social divines to create a powerful tool to mobilise people for personal political gain
5. use of mass expulsion, ensured permanent ethnic domination; goal of Serb policy in Bosnia after 1992

Question 11

nationality problem

Answer 11

different ethnic identities can exist within the same state, but different nationalisms cannot

Question 12

How many Germans resettled 1939-442?

Answer 12

500,000

Question 13

How many expelled or deported from territories annexed by Nazi Germany 1940-41?

Answer 13

1.3m

Question 14

Phillip Ther

Answer 14

1. fashionable in last decade to focus research on destructive impact of individuals or groups and their misdeeds rather than state institutions
2. however case studies show it was largely in the hands of the great powers