New Ethnic Groups Creation

During the 19th century, new ethnic groups were created by European colonial governments in order to facilitate ruling their new indigenous subjects. This was the case in Australia and over much of Western North America where there had been small, independent bands of foraging societies. The bands were combined into larger political units by government officials in order to simplify the control of them. Indigenous leadership positions, such as chiefs, were created for peoples who previously did not have the concept of a leader who could act and speak for their societies.
Map of European colonies around the world in 1938--Belgian, British, Dutch, French, Italian, and Portuguese

European colonial empires in 1938

Similarly, the colonial powers forced diverse ethnic groups to see themselves as being part of larger nations with common ethnicity. This was the case in India, Malaysia, New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and much of Africa. In part, these new nations were created to facilitate control.

Some ethnic groups have been created by themselves for the rational goal of gaining political and economic power. It has been suggested that this was the case with Latinos in the United States. Until the 1960's, their identity was mostly as distinct Mexican American, Cuban American, and Puerto Rican groups. Since then, a feeling of shared cultural identity as "Hispanics" has been fostered by Latino leaders. At the same time, the significant cultural differences between these groups have been underplayed in order to reinforce Latino unity. As new Central and South American immigrants arrived, the Latino ethnic group redefined itself to incorporate them as well. Even Portuguese speaking Brazilians have been included. The creation and recognition of a homogenous Hispanic identity was fostered by the national government. The term "Hispanic" was actually created by federal bureaucrats working under President Nixon in the early 1970's.