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Lecture 10: Ethnonational Groups

Lecture 10: Ethnonational Groups. Ethnonationalist/Separatist Terrorist Groups. Geographic Territory. Seeking control over a specific territory Nationalists/separatists pursue the goal of an autonomous state Ethno-nationalist pursue the goal of state based on ethnicity

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Lecture 10: Ethnonational Groups

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  1. Lecture 10: Ethnonational Groups • Ethnonationalist/Separatist Terrorist Groups

  2. Geographic Territory • Seeking control over a specific territory • Nationalists/separatists pursue the goal of an autonomous state • Ethno-nationalist pursue the goal of state based on ethnicity • Usually operate within the confines of territorial borders

  3. Ethnic Identity • Membership requires proper ethnic background • Much different from other categories, where being a “true believer” is enough to become a member • Focus is on “forging a distinct ethnic identity” apart from the state and “fostering ethnic mobilization.” - D. Byman

  4. Common Grievances • Targets = members of a specific rival or dominant ethno-nationalist group • Marginalization and discrimination • structural disadvantages • discriminatory government policies • lack of political representation and human rights abuses based on ethnic differences • Insecurities and fear among members of an ethnic community have led them to believe that they are profoundly threatened by “others” • leads to “othering” and “us” versus “them”

  5. ETA • “Euzkadi ta Askatasuna” = “Basque Homeland and Freedom” • Autonomous nation-state for the Basque people of northern Spain and southwestern France • 1930s – Franco regime seeks unification; squashes Basque culture, freedoms • 1959, student movement to raise Basque political and cultural awareness; transforms into ETA in 1968, launches campaign of terrorist attacks (mostly bombings, kidnappings and assassinations); 2011 ceasefire . . .

  6. LTTE • Sinhalese (Buddhist) 75% of population; Tamils (Hindu) 12.5% • 1956, Sinhala declared Sri Lanka’s sole official language; 1973 adopted Buddhism as official state religion • Legislation gave preference to Sinhalese over Tamils (government jobs, university admission, other socioeconomic opportunities) • 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam formed; launches terrorist campaign, seeking independent state for Tamils • Pioneers suicide bombings (world’s leader of this tactic throughout 1990s); also developed Sea Tigers unit • Killed former Indian PM Rajiv Ghandi (1991) and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa (1993); finally defeated in 2009 military offensive

  7. PKK • Attaturk, banned the teaching of Kurdish in schools and Kurdish broadcasting in an effort to secularize and standardize Turkish society • Kurdish communities are concentrated mainly in southeastern Turkey, the most rural and economically weakest regions in the south of the country • 1978 Partiya Karkaren Kurdistan founded by Abdullah Ocalan • First attacks in 1984; targets include policemen, governors, members of the gendarmerie, state officials, and politicians • Ocalan captured 1999; calls for end to terrorism; PKK still launching attacks today . . .

  8. IRA • Founded 1922 as nationalist militia committed to a unified and independent Ireland • Opposed peace treaty with UK, lost civil war to pro-treaty forces • In Northern Ireland, Protestant (pro-UK) majority discriminates against the (anti-UK) Catholic minority; conflicts heat up • 1972: British military asked to help security; Bloody Sunday leads to Provisional IRA, 26 year terror campaign targeting police, soldiers, judges, civilians, etc. (“Armalite and Ballot Box strategy) • 1998: Sinn Fein signs Good Friday Agreement; Omagh bombing; still some dissident splinter groups (Continuity IRA, Real IRA)

  9. Asia • Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) • Spawns religious splinter group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) • Free Papua Movement, “Organisasi Papua Merdeka” (OPM) • East Turkestan Liberation Organization • Affiliated with East Turkistan Islamic Movement • East Turkestan Liberation Organization

  10. India • Kashmir independence/separatist groups • Lashkar-e-Taiba, “Army of the Pure” • Attacks include Indian Parliament building in New Delhi; November 2008 attacks in Mumbai • Northeast India separatist groups (Nagas, Meiteis, etc.) • United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) • National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) • National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muviah (NSCN-IM) • United National Liberation Front (UNLF)

  11. Middle East • Zionist, Jewish extremist groups (Stern Gang, Lehi) • Mix religious ideology with ethnically-based justification for violence • Yigal Amir kills PM Yitzhak Rabin • Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) established 1964; goal of “liberating Palestine from Israel” • Yassir Arafat; advancing Palestinian nationalism through terrorism • Power and control over a relatively tiny strip of land

  12. Africa • Nigeria: Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) • Grievances include environmental destruction of Ibo, Ogoni, Ijaw homelands by oil extraction • Lack of infrastructure development, social services provided by government in region • Angola: Front for the Liberation of the Cabinda Enclave (FLEC) • Grievances similar to those of MEND

  13. Chechnya and Russia • 1990s, USSR dissolves, Chechnya declares independence; Russian troops invade to quell rebellion • Chechen groups launch terrorist campaign • Mosvar Bayayev Gang, the Riyad us-Saliheyn Martys’ Brigade, the Dagestani Shariah Jamaat, Special Purpose Islamic Regiment • Major terrorist incidents • Dubrovka Theater, Moscow (Oct. 2002); School No. 1, Beslan (Sept. 2004) • Black Widows – Moscow subways, airplanes, etc.

  14. Ethno-Nationalist Group Comparisons • Represent an ethnic minority within a larger population of an established nation-state • Operate within the geographic regions where they seek to change the status quo • Government targets; often, government actions created grievances for terrorist group • Portrayal of selves as vanguard of oppressed people pursuing self-determination

  15. Conclusion • Government actions in responding to terrorism can reinforce perceptions of oppression • Some terrorist attacks intended to provoke response; foster a stronger sense of ‘us vs. them’ among ethnic community members • Governments reluctant to make concessions; seen as weak or rewarding violence • For more on these groups, see: • Global Terrorism Database Profileshttp://www.start.umd.edu/start/data_collections/tops/ • National Counterterrorism Center Profileshttp://www.nctc.gov/site/profiles/index.html

  16. Questions?

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