Suchergebnisse

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

'Anticipating Ethnic Conflict' by Ashley J. Tellis, Thomas S. Szayna and James A. Winnefeld is reviewed. A book review is presented of Anticipating Ethnic Conflict by Ashley J. Tellis, Thomas S. Szayna and James A. Winnefeld.

Examines evolution from anti-Soviet to ethno-nationalist conflict between the Pashtun ultra-fundamentalist Taliban militia and non-Pashtun anti-Taliban groups; role of cross-border clientelism and need for US leadership in peace initiatives.

Suggests diplomatic approaches to the protection of minority rights, emphasizing negotiation, UN peacekeeping actions, and utilization of regional organizations.

Controlling supply of light arms to sub-state groups.