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Ethnic violence,conflict resolution and cultural pluralism
UNRISD
UNRISD
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eth1.pdf
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Abstract
"On 17-19 August 1994, the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held a seminar on Ethnic Diversity and Public Policies. Over 150 leading policy makers, academics, development experts, representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, and journalists met at the United Nations in New York to discuss the resolution of ethnic conflicts and policies for the accommodation of ethnic diversity. The seminar included both panels and discussion. The panels allowed participants to focus on specific countries as well as on broader themes. Participants included experts on Rwanda and Burundi, South Africa, Senegal, Mauritius, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Malaysia and Pakistan, as well as various other countries in the Caribbean, the Middle East, Western Europe, the former Soviet Union, Latin America and North America. Panel themes ranged from the role of the media in ethnic conflict, to particular forms of ethnic distinctiveness - such as indigenous peoples and immigrants. In the pursuit of practical ways to accommodate ethnic diversity and avoid ethnic violence, several panels addressed the impact of political, legal, social and economic policies, as well as third-party interventions. Prior to the seminar, a number of case and thematic studies were prepared. The seminar then provided an opportunity to disseminate these findings and to attempt to synthesize experiences across countries. In spite of the controversy and sensitivity of many of the issues discussed, there was a surprising amount of consensus among the various participants in the seminar. The importance of preserving human life as well as human diversity was a common concern and many people agreed on such points as the importance of grassroots level policy formulation and conflict resolution. The seminar on Ethnic Diversity and Public Policies formed part of the preparatory work for the World Summit for Social Development, to be held in Copenhagen in March of 1995. Of the three Summit themes - the reduction of poverty, the generation of productive employment and the enhancement of social integration - the seminar most explicitly addressed the last, yet the discussions proved that all three themes had ramifications for alleviating ethnic conflict. For example, several of the studies presented suggested that resource distribution played a role in ethnic dynamics. And participants noted that, in cases of ethnic diversity, "social integration" should not mean suppressing tensions but, rather, finding mechanisms to resolve them."(pg 10)
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1994-08-17
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With permission of the license/copyright holder