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”