Which places experienced major ethnic conflicts in the late 20th and early 21st centuries?

Ethnic conflict, defined as a struggle where at least one party’s objectives are framed in ethnic terms, has been a significant threat to international peace and security in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. These conflicts are fundamentally rooted in political, economic, social, cultural, or territorial disputes rather than ethnic differences alone.1

Major examples of such conflicts during this period include:

• The Balkans: Following the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the region experienced intense violence, notably in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.3
• Rwanda: The 1994 genocide resulted in the deaths of more than 800,000 civilians, primarily Tutsi, amid a campaign of mass killings.2
• Chechnya: Russia engaged in military efforts to suppress independence movements, leading to significant death and displacement.34
• Other notable regions: Conflicts have also occurred in Iraq, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Darfur, Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.15

These conflicts often lead to severe human rights violations, state failure, and immense human suffering, which are morally reprehensible outcomes that the international community must strive to prevent.1