Question

Comment upon the statement “Ethnocentrism leads to a variety of conflicts between nations including wars.” Justify your answer with examples and logical arguments? ​

Answer 1

Answer:

Ethnocentrism implies observing one culture through the ideas and frames of the other culture, which then leads to an unfair comparison. It erases the different contexts and values and takes for granted the idea that one model is better and appliable to all cultures. This can easily lead to negative thoughts, stereotypes, and conflicts, which can have violent outcomes.

Explanation:

Ethnocentrism is the social sciences term that marks the idea of observing and judging other cultures and nations through the frames of the other culture and nation. The person who is observing the other culture tries to apply the ideas and methods that work in their own cultural context to another one, without seeing the context, history, and social situation of the other culture.

Ethnocentrism does not value differences and sees them as equal, but proposes the idea that one culture is inherently right and better than the other one, dismissing all of their ideas and history.

This view underlines the differences and often leads to judgmental and negative thoughts as what is applied for one nation won’t work easily for another. For example, if someone who lived their whole life in the US under the liberal economic and political ideas tries to use this framework as the only valuable one. They can try to apply these standards for the countries of Eastern Europe, which ent from monarchy to communism and are trying to adapt to capitalistic ideas. As this is not possible, as the two regions have a radically different history, one might end up judging the other as underdeveloped and worse. They would forget the process through which these countries went through, how the ideas and economy changes, as well as the fact that one model of economy and politics won’t work for someone else.

The same can be applied to the problems of African Americans in the US – government and people against their movements, including “Black lives matter”, forget the cultural context and background of the community, as well as the history of their struggle. It is expected of them to adapt to one model that is posed by someone else, completely ignoring their thoughts, needs, and problems. Therefore, the conflicts escalated with police violence and riots. This is an example of how ethnocentrism can lead to violent conflicts, even wars in the long run.