The Fragmented Island: Ethnic Conf1ict and the Politics of Culture in Sri Lanka
This article examines the role of culture in the ethnic conflict and strife in Sri Lanka. The general aim is to achieve an understanding of the nationalist process, the force of nationalist ideas and traditions in motivating action-action that is often violent and intolerant-and to demonstrate the v...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
York University Libraries
1993-06-01
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| Series: | Refuge |
| Online Access: | https://refuge.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/refuge/article/view/21727 |
| Summary: | This article examines the role of culture
in the ethnic conflict and strife in Sri
Lanka. The general aim is to achieve an
understanding of the nationalist process,
the force of nationalist ideas and traditions
in motivating action-action that is
often violent and intolerant-and to
demonstrate the value of a cultural approach
to the understanding of modern
societies. Culture has been examined in
two ways here, namely, the dramaturgic
approach to culture which emphasizes
the expressive dimensions of culture,
and the politics of culture or the political
culture approach, whereby cultural
manifestations are utilized effectively to
maintain power between groups. The
article concludes that the SinhaleseTamil
conflict is a product of modem
politics, and culture has been used effectively
to legitimate rival nationalisms in
Sri Lanka. |
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| ISSN: | 0229-5113 1920-7336 |