Ethnonationalism, regionalism and Universal or cultural relativism

Chapter:19 ( Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests) Red - Topic: 1.Ethno nationalism   2.Universal vs cultural relativism. In what context and how to deal this topic?"

You can deal it in the context of understanding our nation

Ethno nationalism is one which describes the instinct of people from same ethnicity desire a 'land' of their own. E.g. Tamils want 'eelam', Assamese want 'Assam land', Sikhs want 'khalistan'. To an extent, the linguistic basis of states satisfies that urge. Because it is more of a thing of identity rather than a 'benefit' in terms of a nation.

Cultural relativism describes the feeling that certain things can be understood only by the people of that culture. Hence if something is alright for a culture it may not be so in a different culture and hence there can be no universal culture.

Eg - Instances of Ethno Nationalism in European Countries in history or present world.

•  Jews nation state- Israel
•  Irish war of independence
•  Serbs Bosnians
•  Balkanisation was an effect of Ethno nationalism
•  case of Kenya is also ethno nationalism
• Bodoland

Difference b/w ethno nationalism and regionalism

Ethno nationalism - people really want a separate land for themselves

Regionalism –people may not call for a separate land.

There is thin line between ethno nationalism and regionalism.

Telangana issue – we can call it regionalism

Is ethno nationalism is a kind of separatism? Does asking for separate state is ethnonationalism?

Yes and asking for separate states is not ethnonationalism but it quenched certain ethno nationalistic tendencies. People may want to form a country for many reasons one example is our country we base our definition of our country on constitution unity in diversity.

Jews and Sunnis of Israel are they belong to same ethnicity?

No

Kashmir issue? Can we term it as ethno nationalism fight?

If there is a fight for independent Kashmir yes it is but right now it is very weak to say the least

Human rights - is it cultural relativism or universal?

Universal

A case like 'sati' would it be acceptable now for our culture?

No. Thus cultural relativism is also dynamic.

The lack of exposure to different culture and different thoughts has been the 'reason' for the cultures to have their own understanding or way of life. These are going to go away with the increasing ease of communication and transportation. Hence we are in the realm of reducing cultural relativism towards universal understanding

However, some of the cultural 'remnants' may stay for the sake of identity