In contemporary politics, the State has ensured that it monopolizes ‘war’ and thus enjoys the prerogative of defining what amounts to ‘war.’ The problems and challenges arising out of these wars have emphasized the ‘centralizing’ and ‘nationalizing’ character of the ‘modern state.’ The unwillingness of ‘states’ to confront and address legitimate aspirations of people have enhanced a spiral of political violence.
Furthermore, most governments have chosen to categorize indigenous peoples struggle as ‘ethnic conflicts’ or ‘tribal wars.’ It is tragic that history has reached a time where social movements and political struggles for basic rights are being referred as ‘ethnic conflict.’
Those closely following people’s struggles would have noted that it is the oppressor who determines the nature of conflict. While in order to secure safety and cohesiveness, mobilization often takes place along lines of ‘identity and ethnicity.’ However, it would be unfair to define these acts of mobilization as ‘ethnic.’ The notion that a political conflict is ‘ethic’ grows when there is failure to recognize the underlying political issues that have caused the acrimony.
It has been the common practice for States to draw boundaries based on ethnic and cultural categorization, thus feeding divisive policies. These state boundaries often ignore the historical and traditional relationships shared between different communities. The objective is to enforce a state identity and to instill fear, insecurity and division over resources and territory along ‘ethnic’ lines. These deliberate policies divert attention and focus away from people’s rights. Hence, with great sophistication and guile, the State diverts the State-People conflict into a People-People conflict through the policy of divide and rule which is pursued and implemented with catastrophic affect.
The ploy in creating an image of the ‘other’ is a dehumanizing process that personalizes the identity and nature of the ‘other.’ In time, those who are not like you, or those who do not share the same values and lifestyles are perceived as a potential threat. These forms of psychological warfare make people insecure while increasing their need to constantly reaffirm and manifest their ‘ethnic’ identity for their survival. As a result time collapses and identity is frozen in time.
It is tragic that issues in the North East of the sub-continent are being categorized as “ethnic conflict.” Invariably, roots of conflict in the region actually lie in issues of justice, freedom, equality and peace. It is ironic that the manner in which the ‘powers that be’ are determining, defining and conceptualizing conflicts is only enhancing possibilities for a clash of cultures!
