Where did the ethnic issues in the modern world originate?

Historical Development of Ethnic Issues Ethnicity is formed in the long-term historical development process of mankind. The occurrence and development of ethnic issues have also gone through a long historical process.

Slavery and feudalism period In ancient times, from the time when people began to develop from tribes into nations, in a sense, national issues had their own early prototypes. With the emergence of private ownership and classes, especially after the establishment of slavery, various small nations or national groups formed by tribes continued to fight among themselves in order to occupy the best land and plunder livestock, slaves and wealth. In feudal society, this kind of plundering war not only became larger in scale, but also further developed into a war of national conquest. In order to expand their territory and enslave more people, the feudal rulers of some more powerful ethnic groups constantly launched wars to conquer foreign nations. In addition to plundering wealth, this kind of war also has the nature of national oppression. Some conquerors even used violent means to force the assimilation of conquered ethnic groups, and their nature of ethnic oppression was even more obvious (see ethnic assimilation). Generally speaking, in the long period from slave society to feudal society, the relationship between nations was basically a relationship of plunder and being plundered, conquering and being conquered, assimilation and being assimilated. Although people of all ethnic groups also develop economic and cultural ties, these ties are achieved through tortuous ways.

The period of the rise of capitalism. The development of capitalism broke through the dormant state of the Middle Ages, and the face of the nation and the content of national issues underwent tremendous changes. During the period of rising capitalism, with the collapse of the feudal system and the establishment of a unified national market and economic and cultural centers, the modern capitalist nation (see capitalist nation) began to take shape. Judging from the situation in Western Europe, the formation process of this nation is consistent with the process of establishing independent nation-states. For example, the English, French, German, Italian and other nationalities, as well as the British, French, German, Italian and other countries. However, in Eastern Europe and some other countries, due to the fact that the feudal system has not been eliminated, the development of capitalism is weak and other conditions, multi-ethnic countries have been formed. During this period, the national issue was mainly a matter of the awakened national bourgeoisie opposing the feudal privileges of the feudal class of its own nation and the national oppression policies of the feudal autocratic system and the monarchy of foreign nations, and striving for national independence and equal rights for the nation. Under the banner of the nation, the emerging bourgeoisie attracts various working classes of the nation to participate in the national movement and fight against the landlords and bourgeoisie who rule the nation. The focus of the struggle, economically speaking, mainly revolves around the competition for the market. The purpose of the struggle is for the bourgeoisie to obtain favorable conditions for the development of capitalism. The national movement at this time was actually a bourgeois movement, and the solution to the national issue during this period was linked to the bourgeois democratic revolution. The North American colonies gained independence from British colonial rule from 1775 to 1783; the South American colonies were liberated from 1810 to 1862; and in the 19th century, Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and other nations were liberated from Turkish rule and established corresponding countries. It was the victory of the national movement during this period.

Imperialism stage The development of capitalism not only failed to eliminate national oppression, but also inherited the legacy of the national oppression policies of the autocratic system and the monarchy system. Especially when capitalism has developed to the imperialist stage, national issues have become more acute. The imperialist powers are constantly fighting to carve up the world in order to compete for markets and sources of raw materials. They used force to turn vast areas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America into their own colonies or semi-colonies. Weak and small ethnic groups, accounting for about 70% of the world's total population, were placed under their colonial rule. The division of the world into a few ruling nations and a majority of oppressed nations is an important feature of the imperialist stage. The national issue in this period has gone beyond the local scope. It has developed from a problem of opposing national oppression and establishing a bourgeois nation-state to a world-wide national colonial problem, that is, the majority of oppressed nations strive for national independence from imperialist colonial servitude. and national liberation issues. Although the national movement at this time was still bourgeois-democratic in terms of its own demands, since the main enemy it opposed was imperialism and its purpose was to overthrow the rule of the monopoly bourgeoisie, it was objectively It cannot but become a part of the world proletarian socialist revolution and be closely linked to the fate of the proletarian revolution.

The slogan "Proletarians and oppressed nations of the world unite" put forward by the Communist International led by Lenin was put forward based on the new situation of ethnic issues during this period.

After the Russian October Revolution The victory of the Russian October Revolution pushed the ethnic issue to a new stage of development. It greatly promoted the awakening of oppressed nations, promoted the rise of national liberation movements in colonies and semi-colonies, and built a bridge between the socialist West and the enslaved East, building a path from the proletarians of the West through the Russian Revolution to the A new revolutionary front of the oppressed peoples of the East against world imperialism. The Second World War - the victory of the anti-fascist war of the people of the world, especially the victory of the Chinese People's Revolution, further inspired the anti-imperialist struggles of oppressed nations around the world and accelerated the disintegration of the imperialist colonial system. The vast number of oppressed nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have shaken off the colonial yoke of imperialism and achieved national independence through long-term armed struggles and other forms of struggle.

After the Second World War Since the end of the Second World War, although the colonial system has collapsed, national oppression and colonial exploitation still exist, but the form has changed. Because when the oppressed nations are generally awakening and the national liberation struggle is at an all-time high, the old, brutal and naked colonial rule can no longer be maintained, and has to change its tactics and replace the old colonialism with neo-colonialism and hegemonism. doctrine, and use political, economic and other means to continue to oppress and exploit those underdeveloped countries that have gained independence from the colonial yoke. Therefore, as long as imperialism, colonialism and hegemonism still exist in the world, the national issue will remain a matter of struggle between the people of the oppressed nations and the reactionary ruling classes in the oppressing nations. At present, the struggle of underdeveloped countries to form a broad united front and adopt various forms to oppose the control of superpowers and hegemonism and strive to establish a new international economic order is the main content of ethnic issues worldwide at this stage.

From its inception to the stage of imperialism, national issues developed in class society. The inherent contradictions of the exploitation system, especially the capitalist system, directly affect the development process of ethnic issues. Β.И. Lenin made a profound observation and analysis of the national issue under capitalism and pointed out: "In the development process of capitalism, we can see that there are two historical trends in the national issue. The first trend is the national issue. The awakening of life and national movements, the struggle against all national oppression, the establishment of nation-states. The second trend is the development and increasing frequency of various ties between nations, the destruction of national barriers, capital, general economic life, politics, science The formation of international unity and so on." He also pointed out that "these two trends are the world laws of capitalism. The first trend is dominant in the early stage of capitalist development, and the second trend indicates that capitalism has matured and is moving towards society. socialist transformation." These two trends are reflections of the irreconcilable contradictions inherent in the capitalist system and are also the objective laws of the development of nationalities and ethnic issues themselves.

The national issue in the socialist period The victory of the proletarian revolution and the establishment of the socialist system brought the national issue into a new stage of development. Under the socialist system, the class roots that produced national oppression no longer exist, and inter-ethnic antagonism has been replaced by a new type of ethnic relations of equality, unity, and mutuality. This opens up broad prospects for the revival of the oppressed nations in the past and the equal and free development of all ethnic groups, provides a solid foundation for the complete solution of the national issue, and continues to create favorable conditions for the eventual disappearance of the ethnic issue. condition. However, in the historical stage of socialism, the ethnic issue cannot disappear yet. Due to the factual inequality and ethnic differences left over from history, ethnic issues will continue to exist for a long time. For example, in China, in addition to the Han, there are 55 ethnic minorities. Some of these ethnic groups and certain parts of some ethnic groups still retained the serfdom system, the slavery system, and even the primitive commune system on the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China. remnants. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, although all ethnic groups were liberated from the oppression of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucratic capitalism, and all ethnic groups were equal regardless of their size, those minorities with lower levels of economic and cultural development When ethnic groups enjoy the rights of ethnic equality, they actually have to be subject to great restrictions. This de facto inequality left over from history is still the source of ethnic friction.

For a multi-ethnic country like China, gradually overcoming the de facto inequality among ethnic groups is a long-term task to solve domestic ethnic issues. The fundamental way to solve ethnic issues during this period is: in the socialist modernization drive, the state adopts correct policies and effective measures, especially in terms of human, material, financial and scientific and technological aspects, to vigorously promote and help ethnic minorities to accelerate their economic development. , culture, education and science and technology undertakings, and gradually narrow the gap in development levels between ethnic groups. At the same time, we must continue to develop socialist democracy and improve the socialist legal system so that the equal rights of ethnic minorities can be effectively protected. In addition, we must constantly fight against the remnants of bourgeois nationalist ideology, pay special attention to preventing and overcoming big nationalism (mainly Han chauvinism in China), and at the same time pay attention to preventing and overcoming local nationalism; be vigilant and combat anytime and anywhere Class enemies at home and abroad engage in sowing discord and other sabotage activities in ethnic relations.

Characteristics of ethnic relations in the socialist period: All ethnic groups develop together and prosper together on the road of socialism; their fundamental interests are the same, and ethnic relations are basically a matter of the working people of all ethnic groups. The relationship between them is a socialist relationship of equality, solidarity and mutual assistance. This relationship will continue to be consolidated and strengthened with the development of a high degree of socialist civilization and a high degree of socialist democracy.

The nature of ethnic issues during the socialist period is generally a contradiction among the people, which can be solved by the method of dealing with contradictions among the people. However, because there is still imperialism and hegemonism in the world, and class struggle still exists in a certain range domestically, class enemies at home and abroad will always do everything possible to sow discord among ethnic groups and destroy ethnic unity, so there are still contradictions between ourselves and the enemy on ethnic issues. exist. In addition, if the ruling party deviates from the Marxist-Leninist line in its ethnic policy, or adopts the wrong approach when dealing with ethnic issues, it will intensify conflicts in ethnic relations in certain areas or on individual issues within a certain period of time, and even developed into confrontation.

The existence of ethnic issues is a long-term development of ethnic issues in different periods. It can be summarized as two major historical stages, which are divided into two completely different social conditions. One is a class society where people exploit people; The other is a socialist society that eliminates class exploitation. The fundamental difference between the ethnic issues under the two social conditions cannot be confused. When socialism replaces capitalism, although the national problems arising from class antagonisms have been resolved, the national problems arising from the existence of national differences and belonging to internal contradictions among the people will still exist for a long time. And national differences will not disappear immediately even after the victory of the proletarian dictatorship on a global scale, after the elimination of classes and the demise of the country. Because the nation is a very stable community of people with strong cohesion and vitality. People's national self-awareness remains long after other characteristics of the nation have disappeared. Therefore, as long as ethnic differences exist, there will still be problems of inter-ethnic relations. The final disappearance of ethnic issues will take a long historical process.