Overview of the conflicts - Essay Example

Overview of the Conflicts Terrorism and violence prevailing all throughout the world is a major cause of concern and alarm for the international community today. Huntington and Chua in their essays try to locate the actual reasons for the conflicts which ultimately result either in terrorism or violent outbreaks within countries or among countries. For Chua, the reason for conflict is the emergence and existence of a market dominating minority which controls the impoverished majority; whereas for Huntington the conflict arises out of the clash between various civilizations.

It is necessary to have a clear understanding of both of their arguments and the possible solutions they put forward, to recognize the actual reason of the conflict.Chua begins her essay by explaining how Aunt Leona, her father’s twin sister who was murdered by her driver in Philippines and how no action was taken by the Philippines police because her aunt was Chinese. This was nothing shocking for the people as hundreds of Chinese in Philippines were kidnapped every year and brutally murdered by the Ethnic Filipinos. . The minority Chinese dominated the whole of industry and commerce in the country whereas all menial jobs were done by the Filipinos.

Chua cites this example to show how the market-dominated minority of Chinese are despised and taken revenge by the majority of Filipinos and how the government supports it. For Chua, the conflict lies in the relationship among three factors- markets, democracy and ethnic hatred. She believes that Americans today are perceived as the world’s market- dominant minority and this has obviously resulted in the September 11 World Trade Center episode. According to her, the global spread of markets and democracy is the major reason for group hatred and ethnic violence throughout the Non- Western world.

This results in three kinds of violence: a) violence against markets that target the market dominant minorities’ wealth, b) attack against democracy by forces favorable to the market dominant minority, and c) violence directed against the market dominant minority itself .Thus she considers the working of market dominant minority against the wishes of the impoverished majority as the major factor behind the conflict and possible changes in the prevalent system can bring about a difference. Huntington, on the other hand, believes that the fundamental source of conflict is not primarily ideological or economic but cultural.

Clashes occur when people divide themselves based on their common cultural identity such as language, history, religion, race or customs and when people move by their subjective self-identification like Roman, Christian, European, Westerner, African etc He feels that just as globalization has increased interaction between various communities, it has also intensified civilization consciousness and awareness of difference between the various civilizations. Now it is up to us to see how far this awareness of one’s cultural identity is going to create divisions and conflicts in the minds of people.

Thus, even though the reasons suggested by both Chua and Huntington differ apparently, it is evident that a solution is possible only when there is no discrimination or distinction between people whether it be of market dominance, economy or cultural identity. The close readings of Huntington and Chua make one to think about the possible solutions for these conflicts. For this the reasons are to be identified and then eliminated. The reason for the violence and cruelty in Serbian Concentration camps was false sense of national feeling; for Rwandan Tragedy of 1994, it was racial discrimination; the incident where 34 Jewish children were killed in Israel in 1998 was nothing but the expression of Palestine hatred.

To conclude we can identify many reasons- exploitation, oppression, suppression, religious fanaticism, extreme patriotism, marginalization and hatred. It is likely that terrorist actions take place when a particular group of people are constantly suppressed, exploited and ill-treated. Most of the terrorists believe that what they are doing is the right thing: “As far as we know, most terrorists feel that they are doing nothing wrong when they kill or injure people….which is an absence of empathy for the sufferings of others.” (Dr. Peter. M. Forster, 2007).

The conflicts can be solved only when one realizes that there is no superior or inferior race, community or nation. Humans everywhere are to be given equal respect and justice whether he is black or white, American or Chinese: People should be educated to treat others with humanitarian concerns.Works CitedDr. Forster, Peter. M. The Psychology of Terror-The Mind of the Terrorist. Blue Oceans. 2007. 1 May 2007 .