Exploring the Causes, Impacts and Mediums of Ethnocentrism: The Case of Selected Zones of South Nation Nationalities and Peoples Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethnocentrism has been the most constant social problem and as such, living together in a harmonious society with different ethnic backgrounds, culture, language, and religion has not been easy for society. The objective of this study was be to explore the causes, impacts, and mediums of ethnocentrism on societies in selected zones of South Nation Nationalities and Peoples Region. The study used a combination of purposive, stratified and simple random sampling techniques to select 3 zones, 343 respondents to represent the total population as a sample. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using two separate instruments, questionnaire and focus group discussion. Data was analyzed and presented in descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Frequency, percentage, and mean were used to analyze quantitative data about causes, effects, and mediums of ethnocentrism. Independent sample t-test was used to analyze sex difference between male and female respondents in their ethnocentric attitudes. One way ANOVA was employed to examine the differences in demographic variables (age, experience, educational level, and marital status) in the scores on respondents’ ethnocentric attitudes. From the analysis, the following findings were identified. Political factors are the most serious causes of ethnocentric attitudes. The leading effects of ethnocentrism were national agenda narrowed and replaced by ethnic agenda, property loss, and making false assumptions about others. Ethnocentric attitudes were enforced by wrong use of agenda of ethnic parties, ethnic federalism, social media, ethnic literatures, and ethnic based sport clubs. Based on the findings of the result, the present study provided recommendations for the concerned stake holders to reduce ethnocentrism.