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Ethnic Conflict, Migration, and Globalization. Presented By: Laura Witherspoon. Migration. Globalization has weakened the concept of the Westphalian nation-state because the porosity of national borders allows for increased global flows of people and ideologies - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Ethnic Conflict,
Migration, and Globalization
Presented By: Laura Witherspoon
Migration
Globalization has weakened the concept of the Westphalian nation-state because the porosity of national borders allows for increased global flows of people and ideologies
This increase in mobility of people across national borders and the globalization of the nation-state has led to deep ethnic, religious, and ideological conflict
The changing role of the nation-state and its ability to exercise its sovereignty is central to the discussion on migration of peoples
Migration cont’d
The inappropriate and arbitrary drawing of nation-state borders in the post-colonialism era has exacerbated the effects of globalization Poverty and economic inequality often cause
migration Other push and pull factors? Increase in global awareness and culture clashes
“There has undoubtedly been a great deal of population movement associated with globalization” (Ritzer)
Despite more int’l openness from globalization, governments are reluctant to liberalize migration.
Emigrational Conflict Labor migration is often perceived as
threatening to a host country Causes fear and resentment of immigrants
Suspicion and bitterness toward immigrants stimulates anti-immigration policies, as in the European Union Greek ‘Golden Dawn’ French ‘Front National’
Racism and xenophobia Psychological and physical divide between
migrants and the host country population
Conflict and Globalization
Question to think about: Has globalization increased, decreased, or stalled ethnic conflict?
Ethnic conflict is not necessarily the result of ancient or inherent hatred between different ethnicities Ex: Hutus and Tutsis
Some scholars claim ethnic conflict is less lethal in developed and economically open societies because economic globalization (which is beneficial to prosperity) discourages such violence
BUT what about the instability of multicultural societies unaccustomed to increasing immigration?
Greek ‘Golden Dawn’
Golden Dawn is a neo-Nazi political party dedicated to protecting Greek heritage and culture from foreigners
Seized upon economic instability from debt-crisis in 2009 to push anti-immigration agenda Default and fiscal austerity felt by everyone in
Greece, but blamed on illegal immigrants
Effects of neo-liberal globalization have collided with the concept of a nation state with an identity and borders Affects a person’s ability to identify with their
changing national, and even ethnic, culture
Greek ‘Golden Dawn’
Golden Dawn protesting for a “Greece for Greeks”
French ‘Front National’
Front National is a far-right political party whose agenda revolves around anti-immigration and xenophobia
Focuses on differences in values between secular France and strictly religious Muslim immigrants By law, religion is not allowed in public locales Wearing of the burka and headscarf, prayer in the streets “We only submit to God and no one else” (
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/august/islamization-of-paris-a-warning-to-the-west/ )
Leader Marine Le Pen sees an ‘Islamization’ of French culture Expected Islam to adapt to France, but France is adapting to
Islam
Identity and Globalization
Increasing loyalty to ethnic identity To those who view globalization as a
homogenizing force, the need to devote themselves to maintaining their cultural identity is strong
Esp. in cases where national borders are redrawn around groups of people New national identities forced on existing ethnic
identities Ex: Alsace-Lorraine Ex: Kurds
Ex: Parisian Banlieue
Violence and rioting in French suburbs is consequence of both ethnic and identity conflict Ethnic and religious friction with Parisians (white,
Catholic vs. African, Muslim) Feeling of separation from native countries/traditions Prejudice makes assimilation into French society
difficult
Suburban ‘Villes Nouvelles’ designed to house North African labor migrants in isolation from Paris proper
Result is divided population (physically and mentally)
Ex: Parisian Banlieue cont’d
Protesters use the Internet to coordinate with other ‘villes nouvelles’
For them, rioting is about garnering social attention
Ex: Parisian Banlieue cont’d
French-born children of immigrants feel disconnected from both parent’s native culture and their own French culture More global openness, more inconsistencies in identity
Ex: Secularism and banning of headscarves/burka Globalization is less about homogenization, more about
becoming acultural
Root of the problem is economic globalization Promises to increase global integration and reduce
poverty BUT pushes low-skill jobs away from developed countries
Migrants and natives alike vying for the same scarce jobs
U.S.-Mexico Border
1/10th of the US population was born outside the country 85% of Mexicans who cross into the US border do so
illegally Work opportunities and standards of living in the US far
exceed those in Mexico Strong pull factors for labor migration Labor migrants leave behind families, but… US-Mexico border has become increasingly difficult to breach Illegal immigrants rely on the underground economy
An effect of increased border security is keeping immigrants in
U.S.-Mexico Border
Right-wing politics and conservatives tend to believe that illegal (and legal) immigrants push down all wages They resent the fact that illegal immigrants
use public services paid for by tax-paying citizens
Bottom-line: The uncertainty, fear, and resentment that revolve around immigration are problematic
“Free mobility is a universal and basic human right”
What to Take Away? Migration still faces many barriers, unlike other
global flows Barriers are based on Westphalian state and its
borders
Globalization has rendered the Westphalian concept somewhat obsolete since the role of nation-states is changing (because global flows penetrate it more often)
Openness and external influences across borders erodes the sovereignty of the ‘Westphalian’ state
Ex: migration threatens national identity and economy
Globalization has facilitated greater migration and consequently greater internal, territorial, and ethnic conflict
Final Thoughts Peace through interdependence?
Globalization has reduced interstate disputes overall, but not territorial, internal, or ethnic conflicts
Globalization has NOT flattened the world (borders are still highly important) Globalization makes it easier for nations to extend their power
beyond borders to protect citizens, but limits power to protect borders
Interfering with sovereignty of other nations or groups conflict
Without access to the global market, the resource base for many internal conflicts (think Opium/drugs/etc.) would disappear
“By increasing the prospective gains that may result from settled borders, globalization offers incentives for a well-bordered world”
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