ethnic,religious nationalism

the transformed modern world in which we live-with all its rapidity of technological change,pressures of media & internet inthe IT age,and unforeseen dislocations-pulls people toward strongly supportive groups;and these in turn(particularly with charismatic,inflammmatory leadership)may easily become harsh,separatist & depreciatory toward others.A deadly combination of predisposing cultural characteristics and severe social stress,plus distinctively hateful,fanatical leadership,can lead to mass killing,even genocide.uch conditions occur again& again.The seductive justifications for hideous atrocities can be provided,as they were by Hitler,Stalin,PolPot,and Milosevic.Indeed they can be spread more efficiently and vividly now by advanced telecommunications than ever before.Deteriorating econnmic condtions,erosion of social norms,or mass migration may readily exacerbate such inter group tensions.Hateful attitudes may be directed toward depreciated outsiders ortoward minorities in ones own country-or both! To diminish the likelihood of disasters,it is important to identify elements of government,social structure,institutions,leadership & prevalent attitudesthat can be used to reduce hatred& violence-to enhance orientations of caring,concern & social responsibility also mutual aid within and between groups.it is important that such efforts include education & other socializing factors durin ght eyears of growth & development,so that young people are prepared to learn to live together in peaceful societies.A large part of this is educating people for constructive resolution of life*s ongoing conflicts through families,schools,universities,community organizations,religious institutions,and the media.Such education must include an understanding of human groups in war & peace.This is afundamental challenge for the century that has just begun;examples of ingenious efforts being made in variu\ous countries to understand & detoxify the hateful approaches that have so often contaminated education,especially inMalaysia with the present BN ruling the nation!