Intergroup Conflict in the Southern Philippines: An Empirical Analysis

This study explores the utility of social-psychological factors, inferred from aggregate or ecological data, which had brought about (or depressed) the emergence of intergroup violence between Muslims and Christians in Mindanao, Philippines in the early 1970s. Eight variables underlying the theme of social strain or tension were selected and analyzed (by MSA-1) for 80 municipalities, half of which were violent and the other half, nonviolent. A violent community was one which experienced physical manifestations of civilian attacks and depredations on either Muslims or Christians, resulting in death, in jury, and destruction of property around 1970 and 1972, and confirmed by newspaper reports. Five variables were found to be facilitators of violence, namely: relative deprivation, Muslim displacement, size of Muslim population, rate of uneducated population, and tenancy. The remainder were considered inhibitors, namely: size of Christian population, land ownership, and farm population. Some interpretive conclusions were attempted and implications for policy drawn. It is suggested that more research be done along these lines for a meaningful theory of social tension valid for the observed intergroup conflict, and around which reasonable policies or action programs may be formulated and applied.