Ethnic disintegration

Cultural collapse
Cultural deterioration
Cultural decline

Nature

The falling apart or destruction of ethnic culture may result from cultural invasion, compulsory education, and other national policies which do not take ethnic considerations into account.

Background

Ethnic disintegration emerged as a recognized global concern in the aftermath of decolonization and the redrawing of national boundaries in the 20th century, when longstanding communal bonds were disrupted. The phenomenon gained further attention during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, as conflicts in regions such as the Balkans, Rwanda, and Myanmar highlighted the profound social and political consequences of eroding ethnic cohesion, prompting international research and policy responses to address its destabilizing effects.

Incidence

Ethnic disintegration is particularly marked among primitive tribes, but can also be seen among sects and ideological communities in industrialized countries (such as Jewish Americans) with their increasing nationalism and uniform national social policies.

Claim

We can assert with some confidence that our period is one of decline; and that the standards of culture are lower than they were fifty years ago; and that the evidences of this decline are visible in every department of human activities (T. S. Eliot).

Counter-claim

The notion that "ethnic disintegration" is a pressing problem is vastly overstated. Societies naturally evolve, and cultural blending fosters innovation and unity rather than chaos. Fears about ethnic boundaries dissolving are rooted in nostalgia, not reality. Instead of clinging to rigid identities, we should embrace diversity and progress. Worrying about ethnic disintegration distracts from real issues like inequality and injustice. It is simply not an important problem in today’s interconnected world.