The History of Ethnic Conflicts in the Soviet Union - Research Paper Example

?ETHNIC GROUPS AND CONFLICTS The Ethnic Groups and Conflicts Uncovering the History of Ethnic Conflicts in the Soviet Union ETHNIC GROUPS AND CONFLICTS 2 Abstract There are manifold phases of ethnic conflict, and most of these conflicts took place or were proliferating more than a few years after the downfall of the Soviet Union. These conflicts have been associated with claims represented in the method of declarations, presentation to and the sustenance of these purported claims by the populace, conflict that did not result into fatalities, conflicts that involved losses and “inter-ethnic combat”. In this particular study, this shall show the different conflicting grounds between the two ethnicities in Soviet Union. Further, this study will introduce a relative and thorough analytic presentation about the nature of these conflicts, its origin, the pertinent causes of the conflict, the resolution and the inclusion of some unresolved disputes and cases. In the calls of psychological relevance, an analysis of the relationship between the psychological ideas and principles – social perception and social cognition – shall be presented in a manner that would explain how a psychological aspect of a person or a group of persons affects the very nature of human interaction. In this particular study, the nodes amid ethnic conflicts and scientific exploration shall be delimited to the ethnical dispute during the Armenia-Azerbaijan war. ETHNIC GROUPS AND CONFLICTS 3 Introduction The then USSR was made up of some mainstream ethnic Russians and while this was a resounding fact during the heights of their dominance, minority groups have always been persistent and tenacious in upholding their rights and to wrangle for their own languages, cultural practices and religious preferences. Majority of the ethnicities that came into light in the Russian soil and the USSR region were historically grounded not on the corporeal aspects but on the basis of language and culture. Progressive disagreements, prevalent economic constraints manifested through extreme poverty, as well as the ever incrementing number of revolutions in the entire realm terminated in the emergence of the Russian Revolution of 1905. The Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict One of the most illustrious and legendary conflicts that occurred in the world’s history was the penetrating disagreement between the two formerly Soviet Union dominated territories – Armenia and Azerbaijan. The conflict brought with it a barbaric and difficult to categorize conflicts in the early 1900s. Many of its major recorded conflicts did not have a chief outline with typical equipped structures. The first collision between the Armenians and the Azeris happened in the 5th of February 1905. Not long after, the conflict has spread over to the other geographical areas of the Caucasus. As what I’ve mentioned earlier, the cause of controversy between the Armenians and the Azeris is not physical in nature, instead, it was based on several sensitive aspects of humanity, most particularly “religion”. ETHNIC GROUPS AND CONFLICTS 4 Similarities and Differences Armenians and Azeris Armenians and Azeris have similarities and differences. One of their similarities is that both of these ethnic groups were dominated by former super powers. Empires and nations like Soviet Union and Turkey dominated these two ethnic groups. Nevertheless, there are some overwhelming differences between the two ethnic groups. Majority of the Azeris are Muslims, garnering 70% of the total population of Azerbaijan. On the other hand, Armenians, albeit it was under the power of Turkey, was predominantly Christian. The Azerbaijan and the Azeris It was formerly known as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, instigated due to its colonization under the Soviet Union. This is the home of the ethnic group called the Azeris or the people living in the geographical areas of Azerbaijan. Officially, it was also enabled to the empire of Nagorny – Karabakh which is an autonomous location in which most of the inhabitants are Armenian. The big number of Armenians is Muslims. The certified and official language of being used in the entire nation is Azerbaijani which was stemmed from its Turkish background. The Soviet-Turkish Treaty ratified on March of 1921 provided the authority and dominion to the Azeris for a full control over the entire land of Nakhichevan. The population of the region is dominated by Armenians; nonetheless, it was reduced by 5% on 1988. Moreover, the district of Nagorny - Karabakh was also conferred to the jurisdiction of the Azeris by the Stalin. The section obtained independent status in 1923. In the succeeding years, there were many repudiating and revolting actions made by the residents of the Nagorny - Karabakh with motives of challenging the dominion of the Azeris in this particular location, nevertheless, the ETHNIC GROUPS AND CONFLICTS 5 manifold attempts acted upon by the Nagorny-Kabarakh people were differed by the Azerbaijan authorities. Finally, it became a republic and gained full autonomy over its territory after the Soviet Union conferred its full independence in October 1991. Armenia and the Armenians For most of its illustrious historical background, Armenia has been controlled by the alien superpowers: Turkey and Soviet Union. As soon as the 17th century, Armenia was conquered by the Turks in the western portion as well as the eastern areas were subjugated by the Persian Empire. Not long after, the Russian Empire ruled the eastern portions of Armenia with assertions and declarations that Armenia is one of Russian Empire's domains. When the Russian Empire befell in 1918, it had bestowed an autonomous status on Armenia and therefore was pronounced as an independent and self-determining state, however, was compelled to pursue Soviet's security after several menaces from the Northern and Eastern Turkey. Sources of Conflicts between the Armenians and the Azeris Religious The active stages between the Armenians and the Azeris were religious in nature. The leading conflict involved between these two ethnic groups, aside from language and geographical locations, was religious in nature. In March 1918, the cultural and religious hostilities sprouted and the Armenian-Azeri conflict in Baku took place. The conflict triggered an armed clash that resulted into massive fatalities. Armenians are mostly Christian while Azeris are chiefly Muslims, the religious beliefs between the two ethnic groups has created the opposing ETHNIC GROUPS AND CONFLICTS 6 factors that formed the conflict. Succeeding to the Muslim Revolution, the races activated slaying each other on roads. Geographical and Territorial Factors: The Battle for Acquisition of Kabarakh Kabarakh or more formally called as Nagorny – Kabarakh is a geographical area conferred under the full control and jurisdiction of the Azeris. The Armenians fought for the acquirement of Kabarakh. That is why, in early 1920, the hugest and the most barbaric extermination and semi-genocidal attack in Susha of the Armenians has befallen. During the night of the Azeris’ celebration of the “Spring Equinox”, the Armenians commenced to attack the Azeris. Thousands of Azeris were slain by burning and stabbing by the Armenian army. Social Perception and Social Cognition The unpremeditated explanation following this headway of intense violence and difference is entrenched in the multifaceted interplay among the energies and forces of social perception and social cognition as well as social conformism that occurs within the ethnic agenda of the Armenians and the Azeris. Social perception and social cognition is vital to how we understand and deduce situations and events that affect our social behavior. Social perception includes inferring and concluding causes and accrediting drives for behavior. The relationship between the two is seemingly overlapped. Social cognition is the main process through which we make interpretations of the situations and commence in construing them. Moreover, hence, social perception is a fragment of our awareness that allow us to comprehend the people or groups of people in our social community or communal environment, therefore, a component of social cognition. ETHNIC GROUPS AND CONFLICTS 7 Social perception is hugely an instrument of socializing and is subject to environmental manipulation. The outline of social perception is fashioned via a shared setting of the circadian and regular events. In view of the fact that language, religion and geographical factors offer the varied foundation from which different ethnic groups use to theorize and articulate the social, economic and political conflicts, there must be a common agreement to be created which can be accentuated or highlighted in order to curtail differences and to contain misunderstandings and even preclude possible conflicts. Social perception is the road that socialization as well the milieu would help us comprehend ourselves and others. At the end of the day, albeit both ethnic groups performed in relation to social conformism, the specific manifestation of that strength is focused on economic, environmental, sociological and religious respects. Between the Azeris and the Armenians, the conflict has run towards the debilitated inter-geographical relationships as manifested by the large attacks and slaughtering. In the same manner, the sociological devices of social perception between the two ethnic groups will create a link that would connect these two ethnic groups in reconciliation. ETHNIC GROUPS AND CONFLICTS 8 References: C Stoker (2010, June 02). Ethnic Group Conflict Paper. Retrieved From: http://stokercg2913.blogspot.com/2010/06/ethnic-group-conflict-paper.html Azerbaijan and Armenia. (n.d.) United Nations Far West. Retrieved from: http://www.munfw.org/archive/45th/4th3.htm Social Perception. (n.d.) Adapted from Myers. Retrieved from: http://www.nd.edu/~rwilliam/xsoc530/attribution.html Read More