Race and Ethnicity

Driven by issues like immigration and terrorism, race and ethnicity is a strong topic for discussion in the contemporary world. Notwithstanding the sensitive nature of the subject it has the pivotal role in the economy and progress of all developed nations. On a larger scope, for cities like New York or London which are highly industrialized and have a multicultural heritage, the subject hardly have relevance in terms of the troubles it has created. However, the associated migration of workers to such developed countries flares up disputes and issues of its own mostly due to the diversity in wealth and lack of education among different groups. West Germany, for example is comparatively prosperous and has lesser racial issues than East Germany.
There are two major implications for race and ethnicity in a multicultural society, first one, the sociological factor is widely studied and debated by sociologists and scientists. The black-white divide is nonexistent in the modern society, or more precisely not easily acknowledged by many. However the divide becomes apparent following a crucial national decision or event, like for example the verdict of O. J. Simpson in United States. Terrorism, similarly, has created more serious conflicts in the recent times, the attack against Muslims after 9/11, the trial of Indian Doctor Mohammed Haneef on London attacks in 2007 etc have been the topic of international discussions. The social implications of terrorism have been much more complex than can be expected which is clearly demonstrated by certain events following the terrorist attacks in US and UK. For the past couple of decades irrespective of the country of origin, people from Indian subcontinent were identified as ‘pakis’ in UK and the Sikhs, who have nothing to do with Islam were treated as Muslims in USA after the 9/11 attacks. Such examples of stereotypes are in fact omnipresent. While Iranians are ethnologically different from Arabs, this is hardly known to the rest... [continues]

Read full essay