Ethnic Nationalism and Post-Industrialism

Abstract

The rise of ethnic nationalism in the last two decades is associated with the emergence of the supranational state and a post-industrial global economy. This is not purely coincidental. All three phenomena are closely linked with important structural and technological changes in contemporary societies. By ethnic nationalism, in this context, is meant the struggle for recognition, higher economic and social status, and political power by minorities which had previously been exposed to the assimilatory pressures of industrialisation. The ethnic minorities in question may define themselves in terms of race, religion, language or former country. In some cases their aspirations for greater autonomy have a territorial basis in which case the movements may assume a separatist form. However, in many cases the resurgence of ethnic consciousness has been independent of any geographical boundaries. Nevertheless, there has been a significant emphasis upon ethnicity as a force to be reckoned with both economically and politically (Glazer and Moynihan, 1975; Reitz, 1980).