Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

I have developed and published a theoretical model of ethnic conflicts as applicable to five full-cycled ethnic conflicts in the Caucasus in the late 1980’s to the early 2000’s. Thorough research of the history of the current Russo-Ukrainian conflict convinced me that this theoretical model can also be applied to this crisis. In this paper I demonstrate that since 1990’s currently Russo-Ukrainian conflict has undergone strong ethnicization alone five principle building blocks of ethnicity radicalizing ethnocentric nationalists on both sides. Recently further radicalization manifested itself within the religious building block reflected in the schism of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Beginning in the linguistic sphere, the ethnicization has manifested itself regressively in forms of nationality, commonly shared history, common biological origin, and ultimately the religious building block. Such radicalizations are also influenced by outside exacerbating factors. They threaten to transform this local ethnic conflict into a larger scale crisis involving core states of civilization units, and, in the worst case scenario, it could lead to a worldwide armed conflict. This resulted in different ethnic groups living in ethnically hostile and uncomfortable environment and forced to them to become volunteer refugees and immigrating to different European countries looking for employment and safer habitats. In the end I propose certain holding mechanisms to prevent further regressive development of this conflict.