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Although referendums have been used for centuries to settle ethnonational conflicts, there had yet been no systematic study or generalized theory concerning their effectiveness until Matt Qvortrup's Referendums and Ethnic Conflict. Qvortrup's study filled the gap with a comparative and empirical analysis of all the referendums held on ethnic and national issues from the French Revolution to the 2012 referendum on statehood for Puerto Rico. Drawing on political theory and descriptive case studies, the scholar created typologies of referendums that are held to endorse secession, redraw disputed borders, legitimize a policy of homogenization, or otherwise manage ethnic or national differences. He considered the circumstances that compel politicians to resort to direct democracy, such as regime change, and the conditions that might exacerbate a violent response. Qvortrup offers a clear-eyed assessment of the problems raised when conflict resolution is sought through referendum as well as the conditions that are likely to lead to peaceful outcomes.This updated and revised edition includes a new introduction bringing the general field to the present, as well as new specific sections on Scotland (2014), Catalonia (2017), and the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom (2016). The original work's political framework now also covers the literature on identity politics, online campaigning, the regulation of social media, and how referendums are used increasingly as populist devices. This edition also updates referendum results through the end of 2020

Causes and effects of ethnic conflict; international focus; 14 articles.

This updated and revised edition of Referendums and Ethnic Conflict features recent referendums, including Scotland (2014), Catalonia (2017), and the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom (2016), among others, through 2020. The book's political framework also addresses new developments such as identity politics, social media, and populism.

Analyzes instances of interethnic tension and conflict within the former Soviet Union and Russia's relations with the newly formed states, focusing on the struggle for power by the new political elites. Translated from Russian.

The links between religion and ethnic and/or political dividing lines has manifested itself in many different ways in contemporary conflicts. In this paper I present briefly the following two forms: religion as a cleavage line of groups in ethno-religious confrontations: struggles between Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims in the Balkans; of Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland; of Sunni and Shia and Iraq; of Buddhists and Hindus in Sri Lanka; of Muslims and Catholics in Indonesia; and religion as a mechanism for legitimizing power in the form of State Religions: National-Catholicism in Francoism, which is likely to generate the formation of the internal religious enemy.

Is nationalism beneficial?: Nationalism: an overview / Peter Alter -- Nationalism can be beneficial: Nationalism can be beneficial / Lynne Jones -- Nationalism is vital to democracy / Ghia Nodia -- Nationalism sustains cultural diversity / Isaiah Berlin, interviewed by Nathan Gardels -- Nationalism drives self-determination movements / Julius Jacobson -- Liberal nationalism can benefit ethnic groups / Yael Tamir -- Nationalism can be harmful: Nationalism impedes progress / Ernest Erber -- Nationalism threatens peace in Europe / Daniel Singer -- Nationalism oppresses working classes / New Unionist -- Radical nationalism promotes anti-semitism / Robert S. Wistrich -- Fascist nationalism incites violence against immigrants / Steve Vogel -- Is ethnic violence ever justified?: Yes: ethnic violence is justified: Ethnic warfare in the former Yugoslavia protects Serbs / Momcilo Selic -- Bosnian Muslims have the right to use violence / Muhamed Sacirbey -- Violence against Israel is justified to free Palestine / Ibrahim Ghawshah, interviewed by KEYHAN -- Violence by the Irish Republican Army is justified / Anonymous, interviewed by Morgan Strong -- Violence is justified to protect the purity of the white race / David Lane -- No: ethnic conflict is not justified: Serbs have committed heinous war crimes / Lawrence S. Eagleburger -- Mass rapes committed by Serbs are war crimes / Manuela Dobos -- Violence in the Arab world is unjustified cruelty / Kanan Makiya -- Terrorism by the Irish Republican Army is not justified / Herb Greer -- German neo-Nazi assaults against immigrants must end / Revolutionary Communist Party, USA -- Hindu violence against Muslims is barbaric / Vibhuti Patel -- What are the causes of ethnic conflict?: Ethnic conflict: an overview / Robin Wright -- Nationalism causes ethnic conflict / Jay Stuller -- Religious radicalism causes ethnic conflict / Mark Juergensmeyer -- Economic prejudice causes ethnic conflict / Thomas Sowell -- Political exploitation of ethnicity causes conflict / Sonia Shah -- Political crises intensify ethnic conflict / Stephen Ryan -- Should nations intervene in ethnic conflicts?: Case study: the Balkans: Intervention in the Balkans: an overview / Friends Committee on National Legislation -- Nations should intervene in the Balkans: NATO should intervene in the Balkans / Paul C. Warnke -- Use military force to partition Bosnia / John J. Mearsheimer and Robert A. Pape -- United Nations and NATO should intervene in Kosovo / Bujar Bukoshi -- Limited military intervention in Bosnia may be necessary / John Roach -- Nations should not intervene in the Balkans: Do not intervene against the Serbs / Murray N. Rothbard -- America's military should not intervene in the Balkans / John McCain, interviewed by Major Garrett -- Foreign military intervention would fail / Misha Glenny -- How can ethnic conflict be prevented?: Collective security can prevent ethnic conflict / Madeleine K. Albright -- Disarmament can prevent ethnic conflict / Michael Renner -- Democracy can prevent ethnic conflict / Benjamin R. Barber -- Empowering ethnic groups can prevent ethnic conflict / Jack D. Forbes -- Intergroup dialogue can prevent ethnic conflict / Harold H. Saunders -- Ethnic conflicts around the world

The history of independent Ukraine is characterised by the relatively peaceful handling of ethnic & linguistic conflict potential, despite the fact that approximately one quarter of the population belongs to ethnic minorities & less than half of the population has the state language as its first language. This is not explained by skilful government policies but rather by the patrimonial character of the Ukrainian polity that is softening the excesses of Ukrainisation policies, the cultural affinity of Russian & Ukrainian cultures, as well as the general passivity of the population. The Ukrainisation campaign of the Ukrainian government has been very ineffective & Ukrainian culture is in 2001 more endangered than in 1991. Given the growing economic dependence upon Russia & declining support for Ukrainian statehood, support for Ukrainisation policies is narrowing down. The Crimea is a case apart because this peninsula is not part of historical Ukraine & few Ukrainians live there. Moreover, the Crimea is disputed by powerful forces in Russia. Conflict between Crimea & Kyiv could be contained partly due to the inability of the Crimean elite to unite & to govern the region adequately, therewith eroding support for a separatist agenda. Adapted from the source document.

Refutes commonly held views of ethnic conflicts, and argues that debates among policy-makers on intervention demand a more sober perspective. Topics include role of tribal and religious rivalry, genocide, globalization, and fanaticism; Africa, the former Soviet Union, and elsewhere.

The social sciences offer many insights into the causes of the intense ethnic conflicts that characterize the close of the twentieth century, but they also create obstacles to understanding these baffling problems, contends H. D. Forbes in this important book. Forbes takes a critical look at the "contact hypothesis"-the assumption commonly held by social scientists that increased contact between different ethnic groups gives each group more accurate information about the other and thus reduces friction. By distinguishing aggregate from individual relations, Forbes suggests a way out of the perplexities induced by current social science literature on prejudice and discrimination.Drawing on studies of the contact hypothesis in sociology and social psychology and on the literature on nationalism and ethnic conflict, this book provides the most thorough review of contact theory available. Scientific research suggests that increased contact between culturally distinct groups in some cases gives rise to more intense conflict. Yet individuals who get to know each other better generally like each other better. Can these apparently conflicting generalizations both be true? asks Forbes. They are, he argues, and he takes contemporary social science to task for failing to show how and why this is possible. The author clarifies the weaknesses of contact theory, develops an alternative "linguistic model" of ethnic conflict, and concludes with penetrating reflections on the politics and methodology of the social sciences today