Intra-Ethnic Conflict and its Consequences with Special Reference to Greek Canadian Communities

Abstract

Based on information obtained from published and unpublished reports, personal interviews with Greek community leaders and participant observation, this paper examines the factors which contribute to intra-ethnic conflict in Greek Canadian communities. Power struggle between clergy and laymen for the administrative control of the ethnoreligious communities, old country politics competition for status and personal interests, cultural experiences of Greek immigrants in the homeland and strong ethnic cohesion are viewed as factors contributing to intra-ethnic conflict and friction.

Intra-ethnic conflict has negative aspects insofar as it impedes the adaptation of newcomers to the established socio-economic and political structure, drains energy from participants in the conflict, adversely affects kinship networks, and, sometimes, creates an adverse perception by outsiders. On the other hand, however, intra-ethnic conflict has positive consequences such as changing authoritarian community structures, enhancing communication between various groups within the ethnic community, and facilitating the ethnic group’s adaptation to the host society.