Identities in Conflict? Latin (African) American

In: Peace review: the international quarterly of world peace, Band 9, Heft 4, S. 489-495

Abstract

Addresses the issue of whether cultural sensitivity in the US, in terms of categories such as Native American, African American, or Latin American, has helped to resolve conflicts stemming from cultural differences. Two differing philosophical approaches to dealing with cultural conflict (avoiding & not avoiding cultural particularities) are discussed as they apply to European philosophical tradition & Brazilian cultural identity. It is argued that political & social theories promoting secularism & tolerance have increased awareness of the importance of ethnic, religious, & gender differences & their resulting conflicts. The syncretic ideal in Brazil, which promoted the fusion of all races, was seen as the answer to cultural conflict. However, it is suggested that the appropriation & displacement of ethnic identity, especially African culture, is adverse to an ideal of the nation-state. Predicates such as African, Latin, & Native stem from a history of exclusion & affirm a political & cultural identity in exclusivistic terms tied to a given territory. J. Lindroth