How does ethnicity relate to conflict? Racial terminology defines us to ourselves and to others. There is conflict between and within groups over racial terminology, and the acceptability of racial...

How does ethnicity relate to conflict? Racial terminology defines us to ourselves and to others. There is conflict between and within groups over racial terminology, and the acceptability of racial terms changes over time and by group. Ethnic groups also compete over power and resources, and at their starkest they can result in genocide. The United States is often called a melting pot society, and there is disagreement over whether assimilation or pluralism best describes U.S. society. Assimilation occurs when the minority group fits into the majority group, pluralism is ethnic diversity with mutual respect among groups, and multiculturalism is marked by groups living side-by-side in equality.