Overview of the Causes of Ethnic Conflicts in the World

Abstract

This writing reviews a number of studies of ethnic conflicts in the world so as to generalize their main causes. Based on the result of the overview, the five main defined causes are: the historic despite; the limitations of Nation-state policies; the dispute of resources and positions; the religious and cultural differences; and the intervention of forces outside the national borders. However, according to the author, to fully understand the ethnic conflicts, it is needed to have the systematic approach, the consideration of all elements in historic length instead of investigation into the separate causes.