Ethnic Conflicts Around the World AP Human Geography

Ethnic Conflicts Around the World AP Human Geography

Ethiopia/Eritrea – The Horn of Africa • Both were Italian colonies (Eritrea – 1890, Ethiopia – 1930 s) • Post WWII – Ethiopia given independence and control of Eritrea – Bans local language – Dissolves Eritrean legislature – Eritrea fights for independence 1961 -1991

Eritrea as a State • 1991 – Eritrea defeats Ethiopian army • 1993 – Eritrean independence • 1998 – border dispute between the 2 countries; violence restarts • 2000 – Ethiopia wins disputed area

Eritrea and Ethiopia Today • Ethiopia – 3 major ethnic groups – Amharic/Coptic Christians in the north – Muslims in the south (Oromo, 40% pop. ) – Eastern Orthodox in the far north (Tigres) • Eritrea – 9 ethnic groups (split between Muslim and Christian) remain largely united b/c of common fight against Ethiopia

The North/South Geography of Sudan • North Sudan – – – Arabs Muslims Urbanized Ties to Egypt Dry • South Sudan – – Blacks Christians and animists Farmers Ties to Chad, Uganda, Kenya – Tropical, lush rainforests

Facts & History of Sudan • Large, poor, 40 m people • Independence in 1956 from Britain • Civil Wars – 1956 -1972 • N & S at war over control of central gov’t – 1984 -2005 • Central gov’t (Arab Muslim dominated) trying to assert power over South (black Christians and animists) • Imposition of Shari’a law • Discovery of oil • 2 mill+ people died, 5% of pop. , 1 mill+ refugees • Accord in 2005 called for autonomy in the south and power sharing in nat’l gov.

Sudan Today and Darfur • Today, Sudan’s gov’t is the NIF – Nat’l Islamic Front – Capital: Khartoum • Darfur – Region in western Sudan – Early 2003 • Opposition groups in Darfur rose up against NIF – Gov’t crushed the rebellion.

Genocide? • Sudan’s gov’t supporting an Arab militia known as the Janjaweed – Looting and burning villages – Bombings of villages – Rapes, murders

The People of Darfur • 400, 000 dead • 2 million displaced • Another 1. 5 million in need of humanitarian assistance – Very difficult for this to happen, though, b/c the area is hard to reach and dangerous

Who’s helping? • • United Nations – July 2004: demanded that Sudanese gov’t disarm Janjaweed and prosecute leaders U. S. – Powell, Bush: genocide is occurring African Union – Troops in place, but not enough to protect civilians Today – Calls for UN peacekeepers – Sudan says this would be occupation – Peace Treaty written in May 2006 but only 2 groups have signed it (including gov’t forces)

Somalia • 9 m people, 6 major groups/clans • Seem unified on surface: – Sunni Muslim – Somali speaking • 1990 s – traditional means of control disturbed; warring clans, Somaliland declares independence from rest of country, but not recognized • Collapse of government, refugees • 1992 – 300, 000 die from famine and war

Somalia • 1992 – U. S. send troops to help with food distribution and to take weapons from armed militias • 1994 – Peace talks collapse and U. S. troops withdraw • TODAY – Islamic militants overthrew warlords. (US gov’t had backed warlords)

Lebanon • 4 m people in country of 4, 000 miles (like CT) • 1943 – Lebanon gains independence from France • Becomes financial & recreational center in Middle East • Beirut = “Paris of the Middle East”

Lebanon • Ethnic makeup of Lebanon – 30% is Christian • 2/3 of Christians are Maronites • 1/6 of Christians are Eastern Orthodox • 1/6 of Christians are of other sects (Greek Catholic, Armenian, etc) – 60% are Muslims • 2/3 are Shiite Muslims (Hezbollah & others) • 1/3 are Sunni Muslims – 7% are Druze (combines elements of Christianity and Islam; secretive religion)

Where do the ethnicities of Lebanon live?

Ethnicities in the Gov’t • Since independence in 1943, gov’t divided/distributed through the religions: – President = Maronite – Premier = Sunni – Speaker = Shiite – Foreign Minister = Greek Orthodox

Who is unhappy with this situation? • Christians have majority control in gov’t and businesses • Muslims want more equality and participation in the gov’t • Gov’t unable to deal with these changing conditions and divisions…

Civil War in Lebanon • Broke out in 1975 • Each religious group has warring militia. • Syria, Israel and U. S. all send troops at some point. • 1983 – U. S. Marine barracks destroyed by a truck bomb - 241 Marines die - US pulls out • Lebanon left in hands of Syria, whose troops withdrew in 2005 • Early 2006 - relative stability • 2006 war - Israel and Hezbollah casualties, extensive damage to infrastructure, refugees from July 12, 2006 until ceasefire on August 14, 2006

Current Situation in Lebanon • Summer 2006 – Hezbollah (Muslim extremist group) fires rockets into Israel – Israel responds with rocket firing – “War” lasts for just over a month – UN helps organize a cease-fire – Israel’s concerns: Hezbollah in control in Southern Lebanon (backed by Iran) – Lebanon concerns: Question about Lebanese gov’t ability to control Hezbollah

Dividing Ethnicities among more than one state: South Asia • 1947 British end rule of Indian subcontinent - divide into 2 countries: India and Pakistan. – Pakistan is 2 non-contiguous states (East Pakistan became Bangladesh in 1971) – Divisions based on ethnicity: Pakistan-Muslim, India-Hindu – Hinduism is great uniting force in diverse India – History of fights over territory in N. India became religious wars

Forced Migration and Ethnic Disputes • The Partition of South Asia caused migration of 17 m people b/c boundaries did not match exactly - violence – Never agreed on boundary between India and Pakistan in northern region of Kashmir – 1972, maintained “line of control” splitting region. Muslims who are majority in region have been fighting guerilla war to reunite with Pakistan or become independent country. • Further unrest in India: Sikhs - not given own country at partition. 25 m (2% of India’s pop. But majority in Indian state of Punjab)

Pakistan v. India • Pakistan – Let residents decide – Pretty sure that Muslims in Kashmir will “side” with their Muslim nation • India – Blames unrest in the region on Pakistan – Doesn’t want to lose Kashmir

Sri Lanka Ethnicities in Sri Lanka – Sinhalese are 74% of pop. • Buddhists • Came from N. India – Tamils are 18% of pop. • Hindus • Came from S. India

Colonial Control to Independence • Conflict had been suppressed by Europeans, who controlled Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) until 1948 (2, 000 year old conflict, held off for 300 years of colonial rule) • Sinhalese held most of the gov’t, military and economic power after independence • Fighting began in 1983, 60 K have died

Tamils Want More Power • • Tamils wanted more power and fight for it 1993 – Assassinated Sinhalese president 1999 – Wounded next Sinhalese president Ceasefire declared 2002, but frequently broken by both sides

Kurds in the Middle East • 1920’s a state of Kurdistan is formed

Post WWI • Kurdistan becomes a part of Turkey – The teaching of the Kurdish language in schools is banned until 1991 – Kurdish language remains banned in media broadcasts – Turks want to promote Turkish nationalism among Kurds

Fight for a Homeland • Kurds are spread out throughout the Middle East 15 million in Turkey 5 million in western Iran 4 million in northern Iraq Kurds: SUNNI Muslims

Current Kurdish Situation • A nation without a state • Current situation in Iraq – control northern portions of Iraq (valuable oil area); are flying Kurdish flag instead of Iraqi flag – Under Saddam Hussein, Kurds were massacred

Ethnic Cleansing • When a more powerful ethnic group forcibly removes a less powerful one in order to create an ethnically homogenous region – Holocaust – Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo) – Rwanda • Goal is not just to defeat, but to rid an area of an entire ethnicity so that surviving ethnic group will be the SOLE group • Not just fighting among men -- involves women, children and elderly

The Fomer Yugoslavia • After WWII, created Yugoslavia out of a mix of ethnicities who spoke similar South Slavic language (Yugo = “South” in Slavic) • 1953 – 1980 - stability (submerged ethnic animosities) – Communist dictator Joseph Tito keeps harmony

Ethnicities in Yugoslavia ETHNICITIES Red = Albanians Green = Bulgarians Orange = Croats Green = Hungarians Brown= Macedonians Yellow = Montenegrans Purple = Muslims Green = Serbs Purple = Slovaks Lavendar = Slovenes

7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 in Yugoslavia • Neighbors • Republics (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia) • Nationalities • Languages • Religions (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox & Islam) • Alphabets (Roman and Cyrillic) • Currency (dinar)

Breakup of Yugoslavia • After Tito’s death, old animosities resurfaced • In 1990 s, move to 5 independent countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia

PROBLEMS! Ethnicities don’t match national lines exactly.

What happens? • Yugoslavia abolished in 2002 and renamed Serbia and Montenegro – Serbs make up 2/3 of population – Dominate gov’t and economy • Bosnian ethnic cleansing • Kosovo ethnic cleansing

Bosnia • Ethnic Makeup – 40% Muslim – 32% Serb – 18% Croat • Serbs and Croats want to reunite with Serbia and Croatia

Resolution of the Bosnian Conflict • 1996 – Dayton Accords – Divide Bosnia into 3 regions • Serbs – Receive ½ the country though 1/3 of population » Ethnic cleansing has “paid off” • Croats – Receive ¼ of country though 1/6 of population • Muslims – Receive ¼ of country though 44% of population before ethnic cleansing

Kosovo • Region in Serbia • Ethnic makeup – 90% Albanian

Ethnic Cleansing in Kosovo • During Tito’s rule, Albanians were given autonomy in Kosovo • 1999 – Serbs take full control and undertake ethnic cleansing of Albanians – Led by Slobodan Milosevic – Forced 750 K of 2 million ethnic Albanians into refugee camps, mostly in Albania

Resolution in Kosovo – NATO attacked Serbia in 1999 & stopped bombing when Serbia withdrew soldiers from Kosovo – UN has been protecting Kosovo since – Independence scheduled in the next few months – Milosevic put on trial for genocide and “crimes against humanity” – Dies in cell because of a heart attack, March 2006

Balkanization = The process by which a state breaks down due to ethnic conflict • Led to WWI • After communism, Balkans are “balkanizing” again

Rwanda • Ethnic Divisions – Hutus (farmers) – Tutsis (herders, taller, more “elegant, ” lighter skin, thinner noses) – BUT, no real difference between the ethnicities - TODAY = 84% Hutu, 15% Tutsi • Colonizers created differences – More power traditionally given to the Tutsis • Germany • Belgium

Rwanda’s Demography • Slightly smaller than Maryland • BUT densely populated – 7 million people – MD = 5. 6 million • Life expectancy = 48 years old; 2. 7% of country is 65+ • 60% below poverty line

Rwanda History of Conflict • 1962 – Rwanda gains independence; Hutus kill Tutsis on a massive scale so Hutu tribe gets new gov’t’s power (Tutsis flee) • 1990 -1993 – Tutsis rebels, the Rwandan Patriotic Front, invades Rwanda – Leads to 3 year civil war – Cease fire between Rwandan gov’t (Hutu) and RPF (Tutsi) is signed; known as the Arusha Accords – UN peacekeepers arrive to support power transition negotiated in Accords

Rwanda History of Conflict • 1994 – – Plane goes down killing Rwandan president (who signed the Arusha Accords) • Believed to be shot down by Hutu extremist • Within 24 hours, Prime Minister also murdered along with 10 Belgium UN Peacekeepers – Sparked 3 month slaughter of Tutsis • Rwandan Army (Hutus) and a Hutu militia known as the Interahamwe • Kill Tutsis and “sympathizer” Hutus

International Response • UN withdrew peacekeepers – Could not intervene b/c they were there to KEEP peace, not MAKE peace • Foreigners evacuated – Tourists – Embassy workers – Aid workers (though some stay – Red Cross) • Genocide? – State Department trying to “define” legally

End of the Genocide • Killings continue for 3 months – 800, 000 killed in 100 days • July 1994 – Killings end when the RPF (Tutsi militia) reignite civil war – Overthrow Hutu leaders – Take control of the country and capital (Kigali) • Rwandan gov’t and Hutus flee over the border

Rwanda Now • 1998 – Pres. Clinton apologizes • Aug/Sept 2003 – held first presidential and legislative elections since genocide • Tutsis still remain largely in power, which still complicates ethnic relations • Hutu extremists exist across border lines, also involved in Dem. Repub. of Congo’s war

Congo • • 1997 – Tutsis overthrow longtime leader Joseph Mobutu – Ruled from 1965 to 1997 – Africanized the country (Congo to Zaire) – Got wealthy off of natural resources • While people starved Replaced with Laurent Kabila – Changes name back to Dem. Rep. of Congo • Tutsis and Kabila split (and Kabila looks for support from Hutus and other countries) • Leads to civil war/violent conflict/ethnic strife in country (1997 – 1999) – Rwanda, Uganda, Chad, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan all involved

Congo Now • Kabila assassinated in 2001 • Oct 2002 – Rwandan forces withdraw • July 2003 – Kabila’s son (Joseph) takes over • Dec 2005 – held referendum on Constitution • 2006 – more elections planned

Northern Ireland • 1949 – Ireland becomes independent • Protestants (want to stay with Britain) – North • Catholics (want to unify all of Ireland) – South • Protestants – In Eng, Scot, Wales

Division of Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland

The 2 Sides • Catholics – IRA (Irish Republican Army) • Protestants – UDF (Ulster Defense Force)

Northern Ireland Today • 1999 - Power sharing agreement between 2 groups, with the help of Great Britain • Still underlying tensions in the region • “The Troubles”

Caucasus Region 1991 – Fall of the Soviet Union 15 Soviet republics become independent nations Estonia Latvia Lithuania Belarus Moldova Ukraine Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Azerbaijan Armenia Georgia Russia

Caucasus: Many Ethnicities

Caucasus: Physical Boundaries

Russia v. Chechnya • Russia = Eastern Orthodox, Russian language • Chechnya = Sunni Muslims, Caucasian language

Chechen Independence • 1991 – Chechnya declares their independence • Russia ignores for 3 years BUT…then becomes afraid that other groups will want independence – Also, values OIL and ECONOMIC benefits of the region

Chechen Conflict Today • Ongoing skirmishes and violence • 1997 - Chechens elect a president and Russia recognized his government. But the issue of Chechnya's independence was not resolved. • 1999 - Russia sent troops back in after Chechen militants crossed into the neighboring Muslim region of Dagestan in an unsuccessful attempt to start an armed uprising. • 2004 – Chechen militants seizure of a school which resulted in more than 300 deaths. • More Info: http: //news. bbc. co. uk/1/hi/world/europe/3293441. stm

Azerbaijan Created after the fall of the Soviet Union 90% is Azeri (green on map) Fragmented State Many Azeris in Iran with no political power

Armenia • Created after the fall of the Soviet Union • 90% of state is Armenian • At war since 1988 – Contested border with Azerbaijan – Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan (area called Nagono-Karabakh) • green circle on map; surrounded by blue

What are some similarities between all these conflicts?