Interethnic

Interethnic is an adjective used to describe relations, interactions, or phenomena that occur between different ethnic groups. It is commonly employed in sociology, anthropology, political science, and urban studies to analyze how ethnic groups coexist, communicate, and influence one another within a society. The term emphasizes differences in ethnicity rather than race alone and is often applied to both social processes and structures.

The word derives from inter- meaning between and ethnos meaning people or nation. It encompasses a range of phenomena, including interethnic contact and exchange, interethnic marriage and dating, interethnic friendships, interethnic migration patterns, and interethnic conflicts or cooperation. In policy and governance, interethnic considerations arise in areas such as minority rights, multiculturalism, affirmative action, and power-sharing arrangements.

Interethnic relations are studied to understand integration, social cohesion, prejudice, and discrimination. The contact hypothesis, for example, posits that structured interethnic contact under certain conditions can reduce prejudice. Conversely, competition over resources or political representation can elevate interethnic tensions and violence.

Some scholars distinguish interethnic from interracial usage, noting that ethnicity can include language, culture, ancestry, and nationality, while race is a related but distinct social construct. In practice, the terms may overlap, and authors may use them interchangeably depending on the context.

Related concepts include interethnic marriage, interethnic conflict, interethnic cooperation, and intercultural exchange. The concept remains central to discussions of multicultural societies, immigration, and strategies for inclusive governance.