Ethnic conflicts and how to live in harmony

Human conflicts

What human beings are doing to their fellow human beings because of their tribe, race and religion is unbelievable. How can thousands of people be killed for no reason other than that they belong to a different tribe or race? We are all part of a human society. The purpose of every society is first to provide the conditions of life and growth, and secondly to state the freedom of the individual and the ethnic groups. These are the conditions of healthy progression and successful arrival. We belong not only to the humanity in general, but we belong also to our tribe-type, our race-type, our class-type, religion-type in which we resemble some and differ from others. We tend to group ourselves in communities, classes, associations whose life we help, and by belonging to them we enrich ourselves and the groups or society to which we belong.

An ethnic group is the means of social identity formation in most societies; this can be according to tribal, racial or language class. This complicated ethnic diversity leaves our societies vulnerable to devastating conflict. In some societies, ethnic identity is associated with occupation such as farmers or labourers etc. Leaders, demagogues and the media have used ethnicity as a card for mobilization in pursuit of power, wealth, and resources. Many conflict scholars say people do not kill each other because of ethnic differences; they kill each other when these differences are promoted as the barrier to advancement and opportunity. Without peace and stability a country is clouded by a mist of death, starvation, poverty and disease. But even bitter enemies find a common ground. Once that common ground is secured, peace dawns.

Ethnic grievances generally emerge from inequitable access to power, wealth and resources. First and foremost these grievances begin at individual level, and then they accumulate and are defined at the group level. We use our free choice to serve not pure love, but our own selfish desires. Because of our free choice, hatred, violence, greed, betrayal, death and destruction have entered society. Ethnicity becomes an issue and this in turn becomes the motivation for reprisals. Ethnic conflicts often rise:

1. When a particular group blames others for the economic and social hardships, and lack of opportunities,
2. In multi-ethnic, underdeveloped societies when the behaviour of the state is perceived as dominated by a particular group or community within it,
3. When communities feel threatened with marginalization, lack of recognition and exclusion from holding some positions in state government. When the youth from certain groups feel that they are not eligible for state high education subsidies.
4. When no recourse for redressing grievances exists; perceived injustice.

Personal constraints to ethnic mobilization

There are social boundaries in all our hearts: people of other tribe, race or ethnicity we shouldn't be seen with, groups we shouldn't support because of their ethnic background etc. But transcending these barriers takes us out of ourselves and gives us a heart as wide as the world. When we refuse to step over social boundaries, when we associate only with our own kind, we miss the opportunity to learn and grow. Sometimes those most unlike us have more to teach us than our friends.

There are no perfect relationships. Restraints are necessary to our existence. We must work in harmony with those around us in spite of our differences of viewpoint. But because of our differing viewpoints, fights, arguments and fights are only too common.

Our differences are there to teach us something and we become wiser when we over come our ethnic barriers. Our differences help us grow spiritually knowing who we really are. They help us to love and accept ourselves the way we are. They help us to become more loving, caring, compassionate towards ourselves and others. We are put here on earth for a purpose; that is to make this world better, to bring love and mercy, healing and compassion. We will be asked to account for when and how we did those things. To live in harmony with ourselves and others, we have to develop the following personal traits:

1. Respect. Try to live by the standards of the Golden Rule, doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. In every situations, treat all human beings with respect. We are born free; we have our rights and freedoms to do things as we desire. We also have the obligation to respect the same rights and freedoms in others.
2. Integrity. It means uprightness of character, the quality of absolute truthfulness and honesty. One has to be honest, with not only oneself but also with others. The prerequisite for any trust in relationship are moral soundness, freedom from racism, or tribalism. It means  your decisions will not be affected by fear or favour or partiality, based on tribe, race, blood relationship, and religion.
3. Dignity. A person should be dignified. Dignity implies state of being worthy or honourable. It requires control of one's actions and emotions. One who cannot control himself or herself, cannot expect to control others. Affirming the dignity of others often begins simply by letting them know we see them as human beings. Most of these connections of respect will be noticed; you can turn someone’s day around or give them a boost of confidence beyond what you intended. They probably won’t know you reached out to them in faith, but they in turn may pass on the hope to someone else. You can inspire more and greater kindnesses.
4. A good citizen is outgoing in his ideas. He is always thinking of how he can benefit others rather than himself or his ethnic group. Through helping others, he has learned the greatest step in personal achievement and successful living. We are assisted whether by association and union or by strife and opposition. It is only out of these experiences that we really learn the true value of life. A good neighbourly relationship is built on sharing the experiences of life, both good and bad. Through this kind of sharing we develop good judgment and balanced thinking. The experiences of life are indelibly written all over our reactions. The way we deal with others is a constant reflection of how we feel toward them and toward life in general.

Institutional constraints to ethnic mobilization

At the centre of ethnic conflicts is the relationship between ethnic groups and the state in the search for security, identity, and recognition. How the state negotiates these interests and needs will determine the level of identity conflicts.

1. Create state institutions and structures that reflect ethnic diversity and respect for minority rights, power-sharing, and checks and balances reduce the perception of injustice and insecurity that facilitates ethnic mobilization. State institutions are created to serve individuals of the state regardless of their gender, tribe, race or ethnicity. Government positions, or civil service jobs, or public service jobs are positions of service to others citizens regardless of their gender, tribe, race or ethnicity. To think of these positions or jobs as a place which offers someone only reward and privileges is completely wrong. Certainly, privileges do go along with these government positions and jobs, but so does the responsibility of serving others.
2. The justice system: a legal system that respects minority rights, protects minorities from the abuse of state power, and ensures that their grievances are taken seriously will reduce opportunities for ethnic mobilization. In societies where justice cannot be obtained through public institutions, groups are more likely to resort to violence for resolving their grievances. A just society is more than the legal system. Measure should be put in place to prevent state functionaries from using their powers to benefit their ethnic group.
3. Equitable access to civil service jobs and the various services the states provides. Seniority, ethnic representativeness, diversity promotion, transformation; in most state institutions these terms are abused for the purposes other than the original intentions. Appointments and promotions should not be based on the tribe or race of the individual, but on the excellent past performance and on the future potential. Certainly, the argument of "Prove yourselves and be approved" should not be applied to every situation, but the principle of equal treatment should be applied to all situation. Unfair discrimination or unfair social engineering should be scrutinised honest open eyes and hearts receptive to the truth and justice. Despite superior performance on equivalent promotional courses, those who are deemed to be from a particular ethnicity different from those in authority will not be preferred. Despite proficiency and suitability for a post, those deemed to be from the other ethnicity other than those in power will not be preferred and selected for appointment. Despite superior performance on equivalent promotional courses, those who are deemed to be from a particular tribe or race different from those in authority will not be preferred. Despite proficiency and suitability for a post, those deemed to be from the other ethnicity other than those in power will not be preferred and selected for appointment.  The military and security sector can be a unifying institutions, creating bonds between ethnic groups, helping to forge a national identity for all ethnicities, providing youth an opportunity to travel and live throughout the nation, and allowing minorities to advance to positions of leadership through merit.
4. Educate the public on their fundamental rights and freedoms and their responsibilities towards each other. Civic lessons on citizenship and what it means to be a nation will foster the concept of coexistence of a common people with a common destiny. Our destiny is common and we must share it; a destiny that emphasises our interdependence, interrelationships, multiethnicities and interfaith tendencies. Our footsteps will clearly demonstrate our ignorance in terms of sharing a meaningful life. It will also inform the generations to come of our inability to live as humans. It will rather inform them that we preferred, in the midst of all choices, to live as barbarians of dark ages.
5. Fair access to state education subsidies and scholarship. Education system that ensures that Lecturers/teachers from so called big ethnic groups do not use their power to benefit students or pupils from their ethnic group. Examinations should be conducted in a fair manner; free from malpractices of favouritism etc. And In much of Africa, when examinations were conducted by their former colonial masters through their examination boards, e.g. Cambridge, all ethnic groups were assessed on equal terms without bias; awarding of dubious high marks to students from the same ethnic background as that of the teacher/lecturer. At one time other colleges and universities in Europe had utmost respect for diplomas/degrees from Africa however with the new breed of graduates especially in medical fields and law that have manifested themselves out of this woodwork and into mainstream professions, the diplomas/degrees have becoming nothing more than educational rubbish.  

These points cited above are the ideal, and at present these are being flagrantly violated in the societies where ethnic conflicts are happening. Whether this done in ignorance and misunderstanding or intentionally and purposefully, the questions are:  is there merit in disrespecting human dignity? Is there justice in unfair discrimination or unfair social engineering?