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Ethnic Fractionalization and Interstate Conflict

Ethnic Fractionalization and Interstate Conflict. Eric Kaufmann Birkbeck College, University of London e.kaufmann@bbk.ac.uk. Ethnic Fractionalization. ELF = 1 - ∑ (share of group i out of a total of n groups), for all groups Chance that two random individuals will be from different groups.

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Ethnic Fractionalization and Interstate Conflict

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  1. Ethnic Fractionalization and Interstate Conflict Eric Kaufmann Birkbeck College, University of London e.kaufmann@bbk.ac.uk

  2. Ethnic Fractionalization ELF = 1 - ∑ (share of group i out of a total of n groups), for all groups Chance that two random individuals will be from different groups. • Tanzania: many groups, each with small share. High ELF. • N. Ireland or Sri Lanka: two big groups with big share, plus a few smaller ones. Middling ELF. • Japan, Botswana: one big group with most, and a few small minorities with small numbers. Low ELF.

  3. Ethnic Fractionalization (Fearon-Laitin 2003)

  4. ELF & International Conflict: Theoretical Perspectives Realism – external conflict deflects attention from elite illegitimacy (Van Evera 1994); helps to provide cohesion in fractious states : There are many in our times who ...[wish]... that this heated passion that is among us might be deflected into some war with our neighbors – Montaigne, 16thc. More internally pacified and united states less aggressive.

  5. Theories… Constructivism/symbolism: nations constructed in ethnically diverse contexts may opt for universalistic ‘missionary’ nationalism (Roshwald 2006; Kumar 2003).

  6. Dominant Minorities and Ideology • USSR: expansionist socialism (Stalin, Trosky, Mikoyan…). 50% Russian. • Iran: Islamist mission (Ahmedinedjad). 45-50% Persian, 92% Shia. • Sudan: Islamist. 5% Arab, 70% Muslim • Iraq: 22% Sunni, 75-80% Arab, 97% Muslim • Syria: 11% Alawi, 90% Arab, 87% Muslim • S. Africa: 18% Xhosa, 80% Black African

  7. 19thc USA: Missionary and Ethnic Nationalism • America is "possessed of an idea capable of infinite expansion. This idea is that of individual liberty …Our Gospel was meant for expansion… the world needs it, and it is our duty to give it to the world.“ – Rev. H. Carroll, 1898 • “When you shall have extended your dominion over the states of Mexico and Central America, you will have added twelve million of a population, for the most part perfectly imbecile.” – John Bell, 1857

  8. Xenophobia and Anti-Imperialism • USA (Love 1997; Beisner 1968); Russia, Britain, Turkey • Saidemanand Ayres (2008) – Diverse ex-communist states more expansionist and irredentist; • Hungarians, Croats, Romanians, Russians reject irredentism, worrying it will bring in minorities

  9. American Missionary Nationalism

  10. Measuring Interstate Conflict • Unit is the Dyad: i.e. France-Malawi 1991, France-Malawi 1992, France-Iraq 1992… • Militarized Interstate Disputes (MID) - 1748 events of 30,144, 1945-92 • KOSIMO – 3142 events of 42,843, 1945-97 • war, violent crisis, nonviolent crisis, and latent crisis (KOSIMO only) • Latent crisis: UK v Spain over Gibraltar since 1964, US v Cuba since 1962

  11. Militarized Interstate Disputes, 1992

  12. KOSIMO disputes (includes latent), 1992

  13. Hypothesis: Diversity and Interstate Conflict • Ethnically fractionalized states too consumed with internal civil war when born • Once consolidated, search for unifying ideologies (liberalism, socialism, pan-Arabism, pan-Islamism, pan-Africanism) • External conflict unifies across lines of ethnicity and sect (i.e. Iran) • True also for major powers (USA, USSR)

  14. State Age vs. State Age x Ethnic Fractionalization

  15. Table 1. Domestic Ethnic Predictors of International Conflict (Base Model) * p<.05; ** p<.01; ***p<.001

  16. Predictors of Militarized Interstate Disputes, 1946-1992

  17. ELF & Conflict: Similar Relationships

  18. BRICS: Homogeneous and Peaceful? • China: 92% Han • Russia: 80% Russian • Turkey, 70-75% Turkish • India: 80% Hindu (20-40% Hindi) • Brazil: 95% Portuguese speaking (50% white) • *Indonesia: 40% Javanese, 87% Muslim

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