Ethnic and Religious Conflicts: Causes and Resolutions in Global History

1. Chapter 32; Section 1 Main Ideas • Main Idea #1: Recent / current conflicts typically stem from religious or ethnic divisions • Main Idea #2: Sri Lanka • Religious – Sinhalese Buddhists v. Tamil Hindus • Main Idea #3: Ireland • Religious – British Protestants v. Irish Catholics • Main Idea #4: Chechnya • Ethnic – Chechnya v. Russia • Main Idea #5: Yugoslavia • Ethnic – creates 6 republics, and Yugoslavia ceases to exist

2. Ethnic and Religious Conflicts do stem from ethnic and religious differences, however it takes more than those differences to start a conflict (misuse of power and unfair distribution of resources) • War in Sri Lanka occurred over the Sinhalese Buddhists making Sinhalese the only official language (getting rid of Tamil language), gave government support of Buddhism, and got rid of Hindu Tamils from power (cease fire in 2002, Buddhists negotiated) • Section 1; Conflicts Divide started over ethnic and religious differences resulting in wars

3. Northern Ireland’s Troubles began in 1922 (Ireland won independence); 6 northern counties (Protestant) voted to remain with Britain; Minority Catholics in Northern Ireland faced economic and political discrimination wanting to unite with the rest of Ireland (Catholic majority); Beginning in the 1960s extremists on both sides turned to violence and terrorism Irish Republican Army (IRA) attacked Protestants and armed Protestant militias targeted Catholics Peace was finally reached in 1998 (Good Friday Agreement) • Betty Williams witnessed the death of three children in 1976, when they were hit by a car whose driver, an IRA fugitive. Williams was driving in her car when she turned the corner and saw the three dead Maguire children and rushed to help. • Within two days of the tragic event, Williams had obtained 6,000 signatures on a petition for peace. • The two organized a peace march to the graves of the children, which was attended by 10,000 Protestant and Catholic women – the peaceful march was disrupted by members of the Irish Republican Army  • The following week, Williams led a march with 35,000

4. War Ravages Chechnya as Muslim Chechen nationalists struggle to free their homeland from Russia in the mid-1990s as revolts in Chechnya broke out and were brutally crushed by Russia • Both sides committed war crimes of torture, a 1997 peace treaty failed, Chechen separatists took their battle into other parts of Russia, in 1999 new fighting erupted, Russia takes Chechnya capital (Grozny), Chechens continued terrorists attacks in Russia

5. Yugoslavia Breaks Apart due to ethnic conflicts (Serbs, Montenegrins, Macedonians who were Orthodox Christians; Croats and Slovenes who were Roman Catholics; and the mostly Muslim Bosniaks and Albanians), different primary languages, and six different republics (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, and Macedonia), and Yugoslavia was held together by the Serbian Communist government

6. Chapter 32; Section 1 Main Ideas • Main Idea #1: Recent / current conflicts typically stem from religious or ethnic divisions • Main Idea #2: Sri Lanka • Religious – Sinhalese Buddhists v. Tamil Hindus • Main Idea #3: Ireland • Religious – British Protestants v. Irish Catholics • Main Idea #4: Chechnya • Ethnic – Chechnya v. Russia • Main Idea #5: Yugoslavia • Ethnic – creates 6 republics, and Yugoslavia ceases to exist

7. Chapter 32; Section 2 Main Ideas • Main Idea #1: South Africa • Ethnic / Apartheid – Whites v. South Africans • Main Idea #2: Rwanda • Ethnic – Hutus v. Tutsis • Main Idea #3: Sudan • Religious – Muslims v. Non-Muslims, and spread to Darfur

8. Section 2; Struggles in Africa mostly dealt with issue of unity / nationalism as Africa is home to many diverse ethnic groups (different languages, religions, economies, and governments); Cold War had an effect on African unity as well • South Africa Struggles for Freedom was different than in other areas in Africa; In 1910 South Africa received self rule from Britain (only to white settlers); the black majority was denied the right to vote; Whites made up 20% of the population, but controlled the economy and government • Apartheid (created in 1948, segregation of the races) Divides South Africa to protect white control over South Africa; some laws included restrictions on travel, banned marriages between races, segregated restaurants, beaches, and schools • Fighting for Majority Rule was spearheaded by the ANC (African National Congress) through boycotts, marches, and strikes (led by Mandela, who believe in peaceful then turned to violent resistance); often resistance by the ANC was met with brutality and killing (Sharpeville); resistance changed from nonviolent to violent following Sharpeville • Overcoming Apartheid came with an increase in nonviolent protests and outside economic sanctions by other countries, and in 1990 Klerk lifted the apartheid and released Mandela; Africans received the right to vote in 1994; Mandela was the first elected president; many problems still exist

10. Apartheid Activity…What Apartheid Would Look Like in a School

11. PBS Special about Genocide(Watch as much as time allows, but at least 15 mins) • Ethnic Conflict Kills Millions as historical resentment divided ethnically diverse nations, and unjust governments and regional rivalries fed ethnic violence • Rwanda and Burundi Face Deadly Divisions as in Rwanda two ethnic groups, the Hutus and the Tutsis, started fighting in 1994 as Hutu officials urged civilians to kill their Tutsi and moderate Hutu neighbors (800,000 lost their lives, and 8 million people lost their homes; France and UN sent in troops to stop the fighting, and later these killings would be classified as a genocide) • Burundi (next door to Rwanda) had a similar conflict in the 1990s between Hutu and Tutsis

12. Sudan’s Ethnic Strife started as the majority Arab Muslims (in the north) enacted laws and policies that discriminated against non-Muslims and other ethnic groups; rebel groups fought northern domination; war, drought, and famine caused millions of deaths; peace agreement was signed in 2004, but fighting had already spread to Darfur as Muslims (backed by the government) burned villages, drove out hundreds of thousands of farmers that feed the refugee camps (causing starvation and death)

13. Chapter 32; Section 2 Main Ideas • Main Idea #1: South Africa • Ethnic / Apartheid – Whites v. South Africans • Main Idea #2: Rwanda • Ethnic – Hutus v. Tutsis • Main Idea #3: Sudan • Religious – Muslims v. Non-Muslims, and spread to Darfur

14. Chapter 32; Section 3 Main Ideas • Main Idea #1: Israel • Religious – Jews / Israelis v. Palestinians / Arabs • Main Idea #2: Lebanon • Religious – Muslims v. Christians • Main Idea #3: Iraq • Ethnic – Iraq v. Iran • Religious – Shiites, Sunni, and Kurds

15. Section 3; Conflicts in the Middle East have had and will continue to have a global impact because of the oil reserves and key waterways • Arabs and Israelis Fight Over Land started as modern Israel was established in 1948 in accordance with UN Partition Plan (causing wars between the Palestinians and the Jews in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973; Israel winning) • Israel Controls the Occupied Territories in 1967 and took land from Jordan (West Bank, East Jerusalem), Syria (Golan Heights), and Egypt (Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula); in 1973 Syrai, Egypt, and Jordan attacked Israel on Yom Kippur (holy holiday for Jews); Israelis kept the land (known as the “occupied territories”) creating more bitterness • Palestinian Attacks Bring Israeli Response started with the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization – leading Palestinian struggle) in the 1960s headed by Yasir Arafat; PLO launched attacks on Israeli, hijackings, intifadas (or uprisings) and the killing of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic games; Israel responds with brutal force with its army • Seeking Peace has been a process: Egypt – peace in 1979 (Israel returning land), Jordan – initial peace made, but disrupted over several issues, Arafat and Rabin signed the Oslo Accord (plan to give Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank limited self-rule)

16. Palestinian / Israeli Conflict Activity… • What is the message of this cartoon? • What is the problem with the cartoon’s view of Middle East policy? • The person in the cartoon looks to be American, but speaks first hand about Middle Eastern policy, why?

17. Civil War Ravages Lebanon was affected by the Arab-Israeli conflict in the 1970s • Tension Grows as the delicate balance between Christians (majority prior to UN Partition Plan), Muslims (Sunni & Shiite became majority following UN Partition Plan), and Druze (minority religion, related to Islam) was upset • Civil War and Its Aftermath started in 1975 as religious tensions plunged Lebanon into civil war between religious militia groups; in 1990 the civil war ended and peace today is tied to the prospects for peace among its neighbors • What does this map show? • What percentage of Lebanese are Muslim? • How would this map be different if the UN Partition Plan never occurred?

18. Iraq’s Long History of Conflict, both internally and externally, have been due in part to oil wealth and ethnic diversity; Cold War forces competed for influence, U.S. has influence in Iraq’s monarchy, but when the monarchy is over thrown in 1958 the Soviet Union gains closer ties • The Sunni Arab minority had dominated Iraq, the Kurdish minority and the Shiite Arab majority had little power; Kurds began to fight in the 1970s to gain power in the north (beaten down brutally) • The Iran-Iraq War Costs Many Lives as Saddam Hussein took power in 1979 and ruled as a dictator; in 1980, after the Islamic revolution in Iran, Saddam seized the disputed boarder region and triggered a prolonged war; U.S. backed Iraq (didn’t like Iran) and the war continued until 1988 (took a heavy toll on both Iraq and Iran); during the war Hussein used chemical weapons on the Kurdish civilians (killing several thousands, and some consider it an act of genocide) • The Gulf War Brings Defeat as Iraq invades Kuwait in 1990 for control of it oil fields, U.S. steps in leading a coalition freeing Kuwait in 1991; Hussein retains power by using torture, terror, and execution • U.S. Forces Defeat Saddam Hussein in 2003 with the belief Saddam had WMDs (which they did not find); U.S. and British forces then set out on rebuilding the nation; some Iraqis welcomed the U.S. and British forces and other did not

20. Nickelback – If Everyone Cared*How many conflicts are on this video that we have covered this Chapter?

21. Chapter 32; Section 3 Main Ideas • Main Idea #1: Israel • Religious – Jews / Israelis v. Palestinians / Arabs • Main Idea #2: Lebanon • Religious – Muslims v. Christians • Main Idea #3: Iraq • Ethnic – Iraq v. Iran • Religious – Shiites, Sunni, and Kurds