Chapter 7 Ethnicity

We have spent less time on this chapter directly since much of the material here is either better addressed under other topics or is in the current news and somewhat familiar to the class. Below I have indicated the main areas to emphasize as you study this chapter.

Ethnicity -- know the definition

Key Issue 1 -- Where are Ethnicity's Distributed in the United States

    1. Read about and review the maps indicating clusters and regional concentrations of ethnic groups in the US
    2. African-American Migration Patterns -- much of this material we have previously talked about in class under the topics of migration, language, and culture. Read through it carefully, and be especially aware of the process that caused the migration of African-Americans from the American South to the North and West.
    3. Race is a politically charged term. Social scientists today agree that it really is not useful to even attempt to define people based on race; ethnicity is useful, race really is not. Review this section with an eye as to how political groups use this concept to discriminate.

Key Issue 2 -- Ethnicity's and Nationalities

    1. Concentrate on the section describing Nation-States
    2. The rest of this section you can ignore. Although Rubenstein is making a valiant effort to describe the concept of nationality versus ethnicity current events around the world today have disproven many of our old assumptions. Simply I would argue that we still don't fully understand the difference between the two.
    3. Be sure to read the section on Africa (again something we already talked about in class) to see the problems left behind by colonialism. Map 7-13 is especially informative.

Key Issue 3 -- Why do ethnicity's clash

    1. Skim through the section. It certainly lists many "hot spots" in the world, but it doesn't really leave us with any greater understanding as to why some people get along and others don't.
    2. Concentrate on Map 7-16 to better understand the location of Israelis and Palestinians (realize that there also is a group referred to as Israeli-Arabs who live in Israel proper), also look at Map 7-17 and read about the complexity of neighboring Lebanon.
    3. Read about the Physical Landscape of the Middle East. Especially note the past importance of the highlands and also the locations and sizes of the various groups of people, including Jewish settlers on the West Bank.

Key Issue 4 -- Why does ethnic cleansing occur?

    1. Rubenstein never adequately answers the questions he raises above. In the words of Mel King …"can't we learn to live together?", unfortunately in the late 20th century some people can't.
    2. Read carefully the sections about the former Yugoslavia. This is a very complex area, far more than even the United States thought even a couple of months ago. How many different groups are here? (Use the map to help you answer that question).
    3. Finally what is Balkanization.