The Dilemmas of Ethnic Policy

A Global Perspective

John Gaffar La Guerre

The Dilemmas of Ethnic Policy: A Global Perspective argues that ethnic conflict increases or decreases in relation to changes in the social structure and the location and distribution of political power. Ethnic grievances derive from lack of access to valued resources, and elites play a crucial role in allocating those resources. This book examines the experiences of five countries with a history of ethnic conflict: former Yugoslavia/Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. It finds that in many cases, solutions adopted to mitigate ethnic conflict have unintended consequences. Often, supposed solutions confuse cause and effect and in fact worsen ethnic conflict. Attempts to address identity issues by pandering to them often led to further ethnic demands. This book argues that, based on the experiences of the countries under examination, the best course is to adopt policies that encourage alliances between and among ethnic groups.

Lexington Books

Pages: 218 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4985-4363-7 • Hardback • January 2017 • $84.00 • (£54.95)

978-1-4985-4365-1 • Paperback • March 2020 • $39.99 • (£24.95)

978-1-4985-4364-4 • eBook • January 2017 • $38.00 • (£24.95)

Subjects: Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / General, Political Science / Public Policy / Cultural Policy, Political Science / Country and Regional Studies

The Dilemmas of Ethnic Policy

A Global Perspective

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

The Dilemmas of Ethnic Policy: A Global Perspective argues that ethnic conflict increases or decreases in relation to changes in the social structure and the location and distribution of political power. Ethnic grievances derive from lack of access to valued resources, and elites play a crucial role in allocating those resources. This book examines the experiences of five countries with a history of ethnic conflict: former Yugoslavia/Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. It finds that in many cases, solutions adopted to mitigate ethnic conflict have unintended consequences. Often, supposed solutions confuse cause and effect and in fact worsen ethnic conflict. Attempts to address identity issues by pandering to them often led to further ethnic demands. This book argues that, based on the experiences of the countries under examination, the best course is to adopt policies that encourage alliances between and among ethnic groups.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 218 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4985-4363-7 • Hardback • January 2017 • $84.00 • (£54.95)

978-1-4985-4365-1 • Paperback • March 2020 • $39.99 • (£24.95)

978-1-4985-4364-4 • eBook • January 2017 • $38.00 • (£24.95)

Subjects: Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / General, Political Science / Public Policy / Cultural Policy, Political Science / Country and Regional Studies

Author

John Gaffar La Guerre is emeritus professor of government at the University of the West Indies.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Bases of Ethnic Conflict
Chapter 2 Ethnic Policy in Guyana
Chapter 3 Ethnic Policy in Trinidad and Tobago
Chapter 4 Ethnic Relations in the United States
Chapter 5 Former Yugoslavia/Bosnia-Herzegovina
Chapter 6 Ethnic Relations in Northern Ireland
Chapter 7 Ethnic Conflict Policies and their Challenge

The Dilemmas of Ethnic Policy

A Global Perspective

John Gaffar La Guerre

The Dilemmas of Ethnic Policy

A Global Perspective

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