Book Review: Jack D. Eller, From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts

From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts, Eller illustrates that the characteristics used to define ethnicity cannot be freely applied to all groups since group perception of what their ethnicity encompasses vary significantly. Further...

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Main Author: Patty Zakaria
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Institute of Romania 2011-03-01
Series:Romanian Journal of European Affairs
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rjea.ier.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/revista/RJEA_2011_vol11_no1_Book_Review.pdf
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author Patty Zakaria
author_facet Patty Zakaria
author_sort Patty Zakaria
collection DOAJ
description From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts, Eller illustrates that the characteristics used to define ethnicity cannot be freely applied to all groups since group perception of what their ethnicity encompasses vary significantly. Further, Eller points out that once a group becomes self-conscious of their difference within society, this realization leads to the initiation of group mobilization, from this viewpoint a group is then considered a nationalistic group as opposed to a mere ethnic group within society. This was evident in Sir Lanka when both the Sinhalese and the Tamils were aware of their differences and had established their own nationalistic group, wherein each nationalistic group seeks to control the island. Taken as a whole, Eller’s From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts, offers an insightful and extensive understanding of ethnicity and conflict, by arguing that ethnicity and conflict have developed out of modern social condition and circumstances, as opposed to primordial dynamics. The move away from primordial understanding sheds light into why once dormant groups become politically active as in the cases presented by Eller.
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spelling doaj-art-8356cd616c364a1e9e41e3a8f802002c2025-08-20T03:31:46ZengEuropean Institute of RomaniaRomanian Journal of European Affairs1582-82711841-42732011-03-01111109110Book Review: Jack D. Eller, From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic ConflictsPatty Zakaria0Lecturer and PhD Candidate at the Department of Political Science, Wayne State UniversityFrom Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts, Eller illustrates that the characteristics used to define ethnicity cannot be freely applied to all groups since group perception of what their ethnicity encompasses vary significantly. Further, Eller points out that once a group becomes self-conscious of their difference within society, this realization leads to the initiation of group mobilization, from this viewpoint a group is then considered a nationalistic group as opposed to a mere ethnic group within society. This was evident in Sir Lanka when both the Sinhalese and the Tamils were aware of their differences and had established their own nationalistic group, wherein each nationalistic group seeks to control the island. Taken as a whole, Eller’s From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts, offers an insightful and extensive understanding of ethnicity and conflict, by arguing that ethnicity and conflict have developed out of modern social condition and circumstances, as opposed to primordial dynamics. The move away from primordial understanding sheds light into why once dormant groups become politically active as in the cases presented by Eller.https://rjea.ier.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/revista/RJEA_2011_vol11_no1_Book_Review.pdfconflictethnicitynationalistic group
spellingShingle Patty Zakaria
Book Review: Jack D. Eller, From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts
Romanian Journal of European Affairs
conflict
ethnicity
nationalistic group
title Book Review: Jack D. Eller, From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts
title_full Book Review: Jack D. Eller, From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts
title_fullStr Book Review: Jack D. Eller, From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts
title_full_unstemmed Book Review: Jack D. Eller, From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts
title_short Book Review: Jack D. Eller, From Culture, to Ethnicity, to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflicts
title_sort book review jack d eller from culture to ethnicity to conflict an anthropological perspective on international ethnic conflicts
topic conflict
ethnicity
nationalistic group
url https://rjea.ier.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/revista/RJEA_2011_vol11_no1_Book_Review.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT pattyzakaria bookreviewjackdellerfromculturetoethnicitytoconflictananthropologicalperspectiveoninternationalethnicconflicts