Under what Conditions do Multi-Ethnic States Avoid Ethnic Conflict?
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Keywords
political science, ethnicity, ethnic conflict, state conflict
Department
Political Science
Major
Political Science
Abstract
Samuel Huntington’s (1996) thesis, The Clash of Civilizations, presents a grim future for ethnically diverse states across the globe. In Huntington’s thesis, it is inferred that different ethno-religious groups will be in a perpetual state of conflict, as primordialist theory dictates, ethnic kinship serves as differences too deep and result in inter-ethnic cooperation being unattainable. However, how does primordialist theory explain the significantly obvious unevenness in stability across mutli-ethnic states? Why are ethnically diverse countries such as Malaysia, Botswana, and Singapore experiencing state peace on top of substantial economic growth? On the other hand, why do other states seem to be fighting perpetual inter-ethnic animosities? The factors that will be tested in this research paper will involve socio-economic indices, in addition to forms of governance, in order to try and pinpoint a possible indicator as to why some states succumb inter-ethnic violence, and why others prosper with ethnic diversity. Upon plotting the bivariate relationships, it was found ethnic diversity had zero correlation on intra-state conflict, while increasing human development index correlates with increased stability. In addition, certain trends such as former-British colony status and history of authoritarianism contributed to stability in ethno-religiously diverse states.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Karie Riddle
Funding Source or Research Program
Political Science Honors Program
Presentation Session
Session B
Location
Black Family Plaza Classroom 189
Start Date
25-3-2022 3:30 PM
End Date
25-3-2022 3:45 PM
Under what Conditions do Multi-Ethnic States Avoid Ethnic Conflict?
Black Family Plaza Classroom 189
Samuel Huntington’s (1996) thesis, The Clash of Civilizations, presents a grim future for ethnically diverse states across the globe. In Huntington’s thesis, it is inferred that different ethno-religious groups will be in a perpetual state of conflict, as primordialist theory dictates, ethnic kinship serves as differences too deep and result in inter-ethnic cooperation being unattainable. However, how does primordialist theory explain the significantly obvious unevenness in stability across mutli-ethnic states? Why are ethnically diverse countries such as Malaysia, Botswana, and Singapore experiencing state peace on top of substantial economic growth? On the other hand, why do other states seem to be fighting perpetual inter-ethnic animosities? The factors that will be tested in this research paper will involve socio-economic indices, in addition to forms of governance, in order to try and pinpoint a possible indicator as to why some states succumb inter-ethnic violence, and why others prosper with ethnic diversity. Upon plotting the bivariate relationships, it was found ethnic diversity had zero correlation on intra-state conflict, while increasing human development index correlates with increased stability. In addition, certain trends such as former-British colony status and history of authoritarianism contributed to stability in ethno-religiously diverse states.