Ethnic Conflict, Equity, and Sustainable Global Peace: An Interrogation of the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis

Abstract

Ethnic equity remains a topical global phenomenon. It has therefore attracted the attention of scholars across academic spectrums and ideological persuasions. Scholars across disciplines have variously interrogated the phenomenon, albeit from different perspectives. In all these, one thing is certain, and that is the fact that ethnic conflicts have remained unabated and have almost become ubiquitous. And often, it exacerbates in a manner that constitutes a threat to global peace. Communities and regions across the globe grapple with ethnic related conflicts, though in different forms and degrees. This study interrogated the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and noted that despite the efforts of the United Nations to mitigate the occurrence of global crises, ethnic groups, driven by ethnic nationalism, have continued to push the global community to the precipice. The crisis in the Middle East has engendered an intractable humanitarian crisis and seems to be bringing today’s nuclear-driven world closer to World War III. The study adopted the qualitative method and relied on secondary and primary sources of data. For a theoretical background, the study adopted an eclectic theoretical approach by integrating the structural functional theory and the frustration-aggression theory to analyze the Israeli-Palestine ethnic conflict. The study interrogated the historical roots of the Israel-Palestine conflict and demonstrated how ethnic conflicts could mutate and spill over. The study found that beyond territorial contestation and equality of access to opportunities, the distinct and peculiar nature of ethnic crises has made a one-size-fits-all solution impotent. In conclusion, the study, amongst other things, suggested ethnic equity as a way out, and provided policy direction to the United Nations, sovereign states, and related global stakeholders and groups. Ethnic equity in the context of the study speaks to social, economic, and political equity.