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
Ethnic cleavages occur when there are divisions within a society based on different ethnic or racial backgrounds. These divisions can lead to tensions, conflicts, and unequal treatment among ethnic groups.
Related terms
Minority rights: This term refers to specific protections and privileges granted to minority groups within a society in order to ensure equal treatment.
This term refers to strong feelings of loyalty, pride, and devotion towards one's own nation or ethnic group often resulting in demands for self-determination or autonomy.
Genocide: This term refers to deliberate mass killings aimed at exterminating members of an ethnic, national, racial, or religious group.