Ethnicity and Nationalism Flashcards
Ethic definition
A minority group that is culturally and often visibly distinguishable from the majority group
Old school take on ethnicity
Ethnicity is primordial (existing from the beginning) and at the core of an individual. One belongs to your land, group and history.
Problem of old school take on ethnicity
Essentialism
Essentialism
The belief in the real essence of things. Suggests that everyone has a definable set of attributes that are essential to their identity. This is anthropological SIN, yet prevalent in identity politics and talks about culture in everyday life.
Social constructivist view on ethnicity
Shaped by Fred Barth, Anthony Cohen, Erik Eriksen. Acknowledges that distinctive traits exist and create building blocks for people (language, customs, religion, marriage rules etc). BUT emphasise that people only become aware of their culture when they stand at its boundaries - through encountering other cultures, see other ways to do things and observe contradictions to own culture
How to study ethnicity
As an aspect of a relationship, not as a property of a person. Should focus on social boundaries.
Ethnicity is not
What I am → but what I do
An identity → but a practice of identification
Belonging → but a desire to belong
A fact → but a fiction, a story you tell about yourself
Value of a social constructivist view on ethnicity
1) See broader politics
2) See that it is a practice of inclusion and exclusion
3) Calculations, strategies, gains in playing on the ethnic label
4) Ethnicity can be a source for cultural capital
5) Ethnicity can be a source of stigma
Inalienable possessions
Fundamental symbols and markers of ethnic identity, which are core elements of selfhood. These cannot be traded or bartered. If an attempt of cultural appropriation occurs, the original group will aim to protect its cultural value.
Nation
Ernest Gellner - an ethnic group with (a claim on) its own territory and state
Nationalism
Ernest Gellner - an ideology that holds that cultural boundaries should respond to political boundaries
The nation state
The desired result of nation + nationalism. A state in which one group dominates.
Origin of nationalism - According to Ernest Gellner
- Rise in 18th/19th century
- Europe transitioned from agricultural to industrial society
- Increased mobility
- Kinship and religion no longer binds people efficiently
- Industrialization requires standardization (of f.ex. time, money, measures, weights, language, skills)
- Cultural homogenization
Nationalism is a response to these changes and results in: - - A new mode of bonding.
Examples of creating new state boundaries
1878 Congress of Berlin - new map drawing in Europe based on ethnic groups
1919 Treaty of Versailles - the redrawing of Germany after WW1
1919 Treaty of Trianon - redrawing of Hungary, Hungarian minorities now exist in many neighboring countries
“Purifying” of nation-states
Measures taken to remove minority ethnic groups within a state.
Can also include destroying material items like churches, mosques or similar.
