Ethnic ConflictsEthnic Conflicts

A look at RwandaA look at Rwanda

AndAnd

Bosnia- HerzegovinaBosnia- Herzegovina

Before we start…Before we start… What is What is ethnicityethnicity??

– a set of cultural characteristics that a set of cultural characteristics that distinguishes one group from anotherdistinguishes one group from another

Ethnic GroupEthnic Group– People who share a common cultural People who share a common cultural

background and common sense of background and common sense of identity are known as an identity are known as an ethnic groupethnic group

Based on national origin, religion, Based on national origin, religion, language, customs, and valueslanguage, customs, and values

Exs: Hispanics known to have strong Exs: Hispanics known to have strong ethnic roots, Jewish communityethnic roots, Jewish community

Ethnic ConflictEthnic Conflict

A war between ethnic groups A war between ethnic groups often because of ethnic often because of ethnic nationalismnationalism

Methods of eliminating an ethnic Methods of eliminating an ethnic groupgroup– GenocideGenocide– Partition Partition – Integration Integration

The Breakup of The Breakup of YugoslaviaYugoslavia Yugoslavia was formed after WWIYugoslavia was formed after WWI It had 8 major ethnic groups:It had 8 major ethnic groups:

– Serbs, Croats, Muslims, Slovenes, Serbs, Croats, Muslims, Slovenes, Macedonians, Albanians, Macedonians, Albanians, Hungarians, and MontenegrinsHungarians, and Montenegrins

- Long time of - Long time of mistrustmistrust among the among the various groups various groups

Cont…Cont…

2 republics, Slovenia and Croatia, 2 republics, Slovenia and Croatia, declared independence; in declared independence; in response Slav army invaded both response Slav army invaded both areasareas

After fighting both republics After fighting both republics gained independencegained independence

Cont…Cont…

Early 1992Early 1992 Bosnia-Herzegovina joined the newly freed Bosnia-Herzegovina joined the newly freed

republics in declaring independencerepublics in declaring independence Croats and Muslims supported the spilt-Serbs Croats and Muslims supported the spilt-Serbs

did not did not Supported by Serbia, the Bosnian Serbs launched Supported by Serbia, the Bosnian Serbs launched

a war in March 1992 against the ethnic groupsa war in March 1992 against the ethnic groups Ethnic cleansing – policy intended to rid Bosnia Ethnic cleansing – policy intended to rid Bosnia

of all of its Muslim populationof all of its Muslim population By 1995, Serb military controlled 70% of BosniaBy 1995, Serb military controlled 70% of Bosnia

Peace finally…Peace finally…

December 1995December 1995– Leaders of the 3 factions involved in Leaders of the 3 factions involved in

war signed a UN and US peace war signed a UN and US peace treatytreaty

September 1996September 1996– Bosnians elected a 3 person Bosnians elected a 3 person

presidency; 1 leader from each presidency; 1 leader from each ethnic groupethnic group

RwandaRwanda

Has a large Hutu majority and a Has a large Hutu majority and a Tutsi minorityTutsi minority

Over the years, there has been bitter Over the years, there has been bitter fighting between the groupsfighting between the groups

1994- Rwanda’s Hutu president was 1994- Rwanda’s Hutu president was killed in an airplane explosionkilled in an airplane explosion

Sparked bloodshed among the 2 Sparked bloodshed among the 2 ethnic groupsethnic groups

Rwanda cont…Rwanda cont…

Govt backed up the media with Govt backed up the media with the launching of a propaganda the launching of a propaganda campaign blaming the Tutsi for campaign blaming the Tutsi for killing their president and killing their president and encouraging the Hutus to take encouraging the Hutus to take revengerevenge

UN est 850,000 people were killed UN est 850,000 people were killed (half of Tutsi pop) (half of Tutsi pop)

MethodsMethods

Genocide of the Tutsi Genocide of the Tutsi Raping and beatingsRaping and beatings

Many areas of the world were Many areas of the world were unaware of what was going on unaware of what was going on

Lasted about 100 daysLasted about 100 days