More and more people discuss the relation between the interconnection of the communication networks and the ethnic conflict on the international level. With technology, people from the globe notice ethnic conflicts not only in their national media but also in the global ones, which also organise and create awareness within the diaspora communities to act and influence the global actors. Ethnic conflict has transcended borders, and the involvement of media, social networks, and other online platforms is a topic discussed in this article to look at the merits as well as demerits of the increased use of information technology in the current world. Previously, ethnic animosities were mainly confined by region; thus, the media platforms that were dominant were newspapers and radio. These conflicts were fairly localized mainly because of the communication networks, which were usually area-based and based on historical reasons. The introduction of television during the Cold War consequently introduced a shift in this kind of role since it emerged to be an influential source in portraying ethnic conflicts to the world. Ethnic conflicts were taken on by the images and narratives of the television, which swayed the opinions of the people and mobilized support for some of the sides in these conflicts. Ethnic conflicts that hitherto were narrated and depicted through conventional media had another shift and transformation through satellite communication in the later part of the twentieth century. Technological advancement, especially in the area of satellites, brought about the ability to relay news and current events across continents; as such, the sharing of information on ethnic crises became faster and more efficient. Thus, ethnic conflicts started to draw more attention of the international community, especially at times of ideological divide like the Cold War. Globalization increased after the Cold War, especially due to information technology and the global integration of markets. This period saw the change of regional conflicts to global ethnic conflicts; this followed the flow of information across different countries, which elicited global responses.
The Internet and the social media accounts that became especially popular towards the middle and the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century only served to amplify this process: data, images, and, of course, stories about ethnic conflicts spread quickly. In reality, ethnic conflicts became globalised through social media, where diaspora groups were able to assert control over the narrative and attract support for their respective grievances. However, in the “CNN Effect” theory, it is said that media coverage plays a role in deciding the international response to crises by the change in public opinion. There is evidence that with enhanced media attention, ethnic conflicts get amplified and receive more global consideration, as seen in historical works such as that of the Balkans and Rwanda. But at the same time, it is important to note that the media can also act positively in increasing public awareness and facilitating conflict resolution procedures. Consequently, it is possible to come to the conclusion that it is highly significant to evaluate the function of media when it comes to ethnic conflicts in the given world, opening the possibility to distort the conflicts and encourage people for their solution at the same time.
Social media has played a tremendous role in influencing the possibility of diaspora communities mobilising, especially during ethnic conflicts. The new media, and particularly social sites, help in advocacy as well as mobilization as was seen in the Arab Spring, where diaspora communities using social media formed opinions and mobilized support for their causes. But the circulation of information through social networks has its downsides: The formation of silos and fallacies. In order to undertake a proper analysis of the role of social media platforms in the context of ethnic conflicts, it’s necessary to study the causes of diaspora mobilization, the ways it happens, and the possible consequences as well as potential threats that can be connected with the use of social media platforms.
In modern conflicts, one can observe that the role of disinformation is becoming increasingly essential for the parties, which can target the state or non-governmental actors using digital platforms to disseminate false information and narratives that provoke ethnic conflict. The Syrian Civil War is a typical example of how misinformation affects conflicts at both the domestic and international levels. Combating ethnicity based conflicts as a result of disinformation involves utilising strategies such as demystifying fake news, beliefs and opinions that promote hatred among the different ethnic groups as well as the socio-political factors that make the target groups susceptible to being influenced.
The crisis of Rohingyas is a clear example of how the organization of communication networks is correlated with the ethnic conflict’s internationalization. Persecutions against Rohingya in Myanmar have been a long-standing human rights issue that escalated in 2017 in what resulted in an exodus of Rohingya to Bangladesh. During the crisis, the Rohingya were getting less recognition around the world; however, with the help of the international media, the violations perpetrated against the Rohingya were highlighted by the media. Stories, photographs, and videos shared by the western media triggered people around the world and demanded action. Social media also helped to amplify the Rohingya’s voice and garner support from across the world. There was the use of hashtags like #Rohingya and #SaveRohingya; this made the flow of communication fast besides sensitising the world on the fate of the refugees. Diaspora communities, especially East Africans, utilized social media as a tool to lobby the opinion of the international community. But the Rohingya crisis also showed the negative side of communication networks since fake news and propaganda have been initiated to increase ethnic enmity and bear control over the global narrative.
It is noteworthy that communication networks are twofold in character in ethnic conflicts, as is manifested by the Rohingya case. They are useful in raising concerns globally and creating awareness and support for marginalized groups, but at the same time they can be used in falsifying information and fuelling more violence. This case study perfectly demonstrates that the positive impacts of communication networks should be enhanced while the corresponding risks related to the dissemination of misinformation should be minimized.
Media coverage has a critical responsibility of framing ethnic conflict in the international community. More media coverage enhances awareness and visibility of such conflicts on the international arena as the international community becomes aware of the situations and responds in one way or another. Nevertheless, the moral obligations of the media have to be highlighted in regard to such critical events in order to prevent the adversity from contributing to the escalation of the conflict or the dispersion of false information. Social media has thus shifted the geography of mobilisation of the diaspora in the way communication is done and activism undertaken. However, due to the spread of fake news and opinions that may reinforce groups’ biases on these platforms, a better understanding of the involvement of these social media in ethnic conflicts is required. Future studies should address the features of social media diaspora mobilisation, taking into account algorithmic affordances together with the virtual communities and the radical potential of these platforms. To resume, the disinformation campaigns indeed play a critical role in increasing the gravity and internationalisation of ethnic tensions. To deal with this problem, one must go beyond simple fact-checking and develop measures to improve people’s critical thinking skills and socio-political situations, which make individuals vulnerable to fake news. The possible consequences of disinformation for post-conflict communities as well as the analysis of these effects’ potential impacts on society in the long run are also beyond the scope of this study.
Thus, it is easier to note the synergy of different types of communication networks and the transnationalization of ethnic conflict. Ethnic conflicts present different dynamics of media coverage, social media interaction, and conspiracy to disseminate fake news, all of which have different implications for the ethnic conflicts’ progress. The “Globalization and Conflict” framework is useful to look through these processes as it focusses on the interdependence of contemporary conflicts and on how communication networks can contribute to global responses. While addressing the issues associated with communication networks in ethnic conflicts, it becomes important to balance it and reap the benefits while minimizing the consequences. This calls for engagement of media practitioners, policymakers, and the social media to formulate and observe ethical standards in reporting, formulate effective policies to govern media, and improve media literacy among the population. Lastly, a better understanding and promotion of the several types of communication networks will lead to international stability in a currently technologically advanced world system.
