What Caused the Ethnic Revival? Multi-case Studies in 11 Southeast Asian Countries

Prolonged ethnic wars emerged due to disharmonious ethnic relations in Southeast Asian countries. Marginalized ethnic groups often create an ethnic revival in response to the dominance of other ethnic groups. The research analyzed the causes, processes, and ways to minimize ethnic revival in Southeast Asian countries. By using a multi-case study analysis, the results show that ethnic revival in Southeast Asia has similarities in terms of past conflict history passed down from generation to generation as well as the use of ethnic identity as a driving force of its movement. It also found that the cause of ethnic revival was the practice of injustice carried out by certain ethnic groups who dominated the government. Injustice then causes marginalized ethnic groups to use their ethnic identities to create ethnic sentiments, which are then used to form ethnic revival. Using Rawls' theory of justice, this research proposes three principles of justice: justice as fairness, principles of justice, and veil of ignorance that states must apply to create policies that are not ethnically biased