Ethnic Issues in the West and the Reference to Vietnam

Abstract

This article focuses on an analysis of ethnic issues, socio-cultural characteristics of ethnic minorities and ethnic relations in some Western countries. The author contributes to a valuable reference for understanding emerging issues relating to ethnic identity and relations in Vietnam. It shows that the ethnic structure and races in the Western countries are diverse and complex. A general trend in these countries is to recognize the diversity of cultures, ethnic groups and ethnic races, and their values ​​in society. The determination and classification of ethnic groups should be based on three criteria: culture, race and ancestry origin. The criteria for classifying ethnic groups in Vietnam developed from the decades of the 60’s and 70’s are now outdated  vis-à-vis current reality. The administrative and top-down approach in determining and classifying ethnic composition, as usual, inadvertently loses the identity and voice of small ethnic groups, and can damage relations between ethnic groups and the State, and between ethnic groups.