Ethnic Factor as a Prerequisite of Ethnopolitical Conflict

The actuality of this article lies in understanding the role of the ethnic factor in the ethnopolitical conflict. Especially, the article examines the peculiarities of the usage of the term “ethnicity”, approaches to understanding ethnicity in Ukrainian and foreign science, as well as differences in the understanding of ethnic (national) groups (minorities) as the subjects of confrontation. It traces how derivative concepts from the formal definition of ethnicity are comprehended and realized in different theoretical structures. In the article conditions under which the ethnic factor heralds imminent danger and is politicized are defined.