Minoritarianism

In political science, minoritarianism (or minorityism) is a neologism for a political structure or process in which a minority group of a population has a certain degree of primacy in that population's decision making, with legislative power or judicial power being held or controlled by a minority group rather than a majority that is representative of the population. Minoritarianism is sometimes used to describe minority rule, rule by a dominant minority such as an ethnic group delineated by religion, language, or some other identifying factor.

Examples Africa Christians in Sierra Leone are an example of minoritarianism. As of 2020, they make up 21% of its population compared to 78% Muslims.

The Tutsi in Rwanda from 1884 to 1959 exerted minoritarian rule over the Hutu population. The Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front has been Rwanda's ruling political party since 1994.

South Africa South Africa was ruled by the apartheid regime from 1948 to 1994, wherein White South Africans (especially Afrikaners) wielded predominant control of the country although they were never more than 22% of the population. All non-white South Africans were subject to segregation and discriminatory laws, resulting in disparities in quality of life.

Liberia In Liberia, African American-descended nationals (known as Americo-Liberians) settled in Liberia during the 19th century. Americo-Liberians were culturally disconnected from native Liberians, preferring Western-style wear, American food, Protestantism, and the English language."Americo-Liberians". 16 June 2009. They formed an elite that ruled as a de facto one-party state under the True Whig Party (TWP). The 1980 Liberian coup d'état overthrew the administration.

Asia Iran The Mongols killed 15 million Indo-Iranians as the Mongols ruled Iran.

China China experienced minoritarian periods in two separate instances. The Mongol Empire was founded by Mongols and Han governors ruled over the majority of the population of China from 1271 to 1368.Kuzmin, Sergius L.; Dmitriev, Sergey (2015). "Conquest dynasties of China or foreign empires? The problem of relations between China, Yuan and Qing". International Journal of Central Asian Studies. 19: 59–92.

The Qing regime of China in 1682 until 1911 created a law making everybody wear Manchu-syle clothing and styles.Kuzmin, Sergius L.; Dmitriev, Sergey (2015). "Conquest dynasties of China or foreign empires? The problem of relations between China, Yuan and Qing". International Journal of Central Asian Studies. 19: 59–92.

Taiwan During the Kuomintang-led authoritarian rule of "White Terror" (1947–1987), Taiwan was ruled by the minority Waishengren, and the political rights of the majority Benshengren were restricted.

Americas United States

See also

Client politics Criticism of democracy Elitism Iron law of oligarchy Liberum veto Majoritarianism (opposite) Minority influence Minority (philosophy) Minority rights Oligarchy Ruling class Social privilege Tyranny of the majority Majority rule Herrenvolk democracy

Notes

References

Barzilai, Gad. Communities and Law: Politics and Cultures of Legal Identities (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2003). Gibson, Richard. African Liberation Movements: Contemporary Struggles against White Minority Rule (Institute of Race Relations: Oxford University Press, London, 1972). Russell, Margo and Martin. Afrikaners of the Kalahari: White Minority in a Black State ( Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1979). Johnson, Howard and Watson, Karl (eds.). The white minority in the Caribbean (Wiener Publishing, Princeton, NJ, 1998). , Chua, Amy. World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability (Doubleday, New York, 2003). Haviland, William. Cultural Anthropology. (Vermont: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers, 1993). p. 250-252. .

Minoritarianism

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