1995-10-01a- CIA Conference Report: THE CHALLENGE OF ETHNIC CONFLICT TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORDER IN THE 1990S GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVES 01-Oct-95

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environmental context can often be seen in the rhetoric disputed territories (for instance, the establishment of
and iconography of ethnic movements; great attention settlements by Israeli Jews in the West Bank). More
is paid to the unique physical characteristics of a subtle land use decisions are also linked to ethnic con-
group's homeland in the songs, poems, art, and litera- flict. In a provocative recent study, Shaul Cohen
ture of the group. In many cases, these environmental (1993) has shown how the Israeli Government and the
characteristics are so much a part of group identity that Palestinians use tree planting to assert their claims to
any threat to them can precipitate a crisis. The link land, the former through afforestation schemes and the
between ethnicity and environmental context is even latter through the planting of olive groves. Studies of
deeper in parts of the world where differences in sub- this sort highlight the importance of landscape and
sistence practices define ethnic boundaries. In the land use issues for understanding ethnic conflict.
highlands of Nepal, agriculture and ethnicity are
closely linked. An understanding of the intricacies of
that link is of considerable importance if we are to gain Policy Implications and Conclusion
insight into the types of events that can precipitate
conflict. Knowing that the Hindus equate brown grains The forgoing account has only scratched the surface
with impurity, for example, allows us to understand of the ways in which geographical perspectives can
the potential implications of a decision emanating enhance our understanding of ethnic conflict. Each of
from Katmandu to introduce brown rice into the area. the highlighted themes could be greatly expanded, as
will undoubtedly become clear in the regional papers
The state of the environment in an ethnic region can that follow. Looking at ethnicity through a geographi-
also become a source of conflict. The ethnopolitical cal lens has a variety of implications for the formula-
consequences of ecological degradation were apparent tion of policy responses to ethnic conflict, but three
in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s; concerns over the stand out: (1) the importance of looking beyond politi-
rapidly deteriorating state of the environment in Bul- cal leaders, (2) the importance of looking beyond indi-
garia, Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and vidual states, and (3) the importance of looking at
Poland provided a rallying point for those seeking to maps-not just political maps, but ethnic, economic,
bring down Soviet hegemony in the region. Within environmental, and perceptual maps as well.
states, policies that promote environmental degrada-
tion in ethnic homelands or territories, whether inten- Turning to the first two points, most of the questions we
tional or not, can spark dissention and conflict. This ask about the world are framed in terms of states and
can be seen in former Czechoslovakia where the cen- state leaders. The assumption is made that states are the
tral government decided to support the Gabcikovo- units that really matter in the world today, and the key
Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project on the Danube questions are thought to be those that focus on the via-
River. The project, which will result in the flooding of bility and policy stances of political regimes. While this
land within the part of Slovakia where Hungarians are assumption made some sense during the Cold War era,
concentrated, sparked protests amongst Slovakia's it is increasingly problematic. The very ubiquity of eth-
Hungarian minority. nic conflict points to its limitations. If we are to grasp
the dynamics and power of ethnic conflict in the mod-
Manipulation of the environment is also frequently ern world, we must be prepared to look at ethnicity
used as a tactic in ethnic conflicts. In some cases, from a bottom-up perspective, one that begins with the
efforts are made to demarcate the boundaries of ethnic aspirations and needs of groups, not one that always
territories through the building of particular structures begins with the existing pattern of states.
(for instance, walls and fences), the erection of signs,
or the emplacement of more subtle indicators of ethnic This is where geography comes in, for a geographical
group territoriality (for instance, symbolic icons or perspective provides important insights into ethnicity
structures) (see Rumley and Minghi 1991). In other and ethnic relations that go beyond conventional
cases, land use decisions are made with the goal
of asserting control over a given area. This is most
clearly seen when settlements are established in
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