Ethnic Conflict: A Global Perspective

Over the past decade, ethnic conflicts have destabilized entire regions, devastated economic development, uprooted communities, and wreaked unimaginable human suffering. From Africa to Western Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, and throughout South and Southeast Asia, these violent disputes are re-writing the geopolitical map of the world and are forcing massive changes in the diplomatic relations of great and small powers alike to an extent that is largely unnoticed. Despite the unfortunate prevalence of ethnic conflicts, there is little serious yet accessible analysis of its causes, its horrors, and its potential solutions. Stefan Wolff looks beyond the surface of the immediate crises to understand the nature of ethnic conflict more generally, highlighting the structural similarities and accounting for the differences among a wide range of cases, including the Middle East, Kosovo, Sudan, and Sri Lanka, and offering fresh insights on these and other violent conflicts. Drawing on his experience and efforts to study and resolve ethnic conflicts worldwide, Wolff provides a vita introduction to the origins, dynamics, and management of these disputes. In doing so, he helps explain the fundamental question underlying all ethnic conflict: why do nationalism and ethnicity have such terrible power to turn neighbour against neighbour? And, more importantly, what can the world do about it?