ethnicization
Ethnicization refers to the process by which a group of people comes to be defined as or to define themselves as an ethnic group. This can involve the development of shared cultural practices, beliefs, languages, or a sense of common ancestry, which may or may not be historically accurate. It is a social and political process, not a natural or biological one.
The concept of ethnicization is distinct from ethnicity itself, which is the state of belonging to an
Factors that contribute to ethnicization include migration, intergroup contact, political movements, and the creation of nation-states.