Shared suffering of four minorities shows stubborn cruelty of nations

Subjugation and the need for enemies

They all bore the brunt of subjugation in West Asia. They were oppressed by nations with various forms of leadership – from monarchies to republics and theocratic states – with ideologies spanning socialism, liberalism, authoritarianism, dictatorship, and semi-democracy. Some were constitutional, and others were absolutist.

The sheer range of this shows how nations seem to need enemies to define themselves. It reveals the shortcomings of a more modern political brand, which advocates respect for the explicit rights of minority peoples and civil groups to exist and express themselves.

Such tolerance is supposed to be possible within diverse, multi-ethnic entities. It is supposed to come with independence and freedom from totalitarian regimes. But this has not yet reached the most-wronged four groups in West Asia.

The nation-states that emerged in the early 20th century – most of which resulted from the disintegration of longer-standing regional empires and the subsequent expansion of global colonialism – were far from liberal.

They also had very different foundations. Unity had previously been centred around tribes or cities in the world's ancient emirates. The new countries were grouped along different ideas of nationality, overlapping with ethnicity.

This gave the new nation-states a profound fear that they could disintegrate at any moment. Consequently, they were suspicious of groups with a separate identity that transcended the new borders, undermining moves toward inclusivity and modern constitutional government, albeit to varying degrees.

Violent oppression

Overt violence has been used against the four groups. It has taken on a central role in the region. It has included the use of chemical weapons and forced displacement of people, alongside the imprisonment and detention of activists and leaders.

Military forces and intelligence services have been used against them.

And when it has been unleashed, there tends to be a general silence among the majority groups in the countries concerned. It reveals that the dominant elite and its broader circle are happy to look away from such events.

The different minority groups have all faced a similar range of accusations. They have included being Western agents or collaborators with national enemies. They have been accused of separatism and disloyalty, branded as outsiders even within the countries to the other groups and prevailing identities within it.

All of this shows the profound and enduring influence of ethnic characteristics. These perceptions of difference persistently overshadow the idea that modern nation-states can be inclusive for all citizens.