Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An ethnic clash is a violent confrontation between two or more ethnic groups characterized by hostility, discrimination, and sometimes physical violence based on perceived differences such as race, religion, language, or culture.
Related terms
Genocide: Genocide refers to the deliberate extermination of an entire racial, ethnic, religious group based on their identity.
Segregation: Segregation is the enforced separation of different racial or ethnic groups in daily life through laws or social norms.
Xenophobia: Xenophobia is an irrational fear or hatred towards foreigners or people from different countries/ethnic backgrounds.