How enemies are made : towards a theory of ethnic and religious conflicts /
Schlee, Günther.
New York ; Oxford : Berghahn Books,
2008.
"In popular perception cultural differences or ethnic affiliation are factors that cause conflict or political fragmentation although this is not borne out by historical evidence. This book puts forward an alternative conflict theory. The author develops a decision theory which explains the conditions under which differing types of identification are preferred. Group identification is linked to competition for resources like water, territory, oil, political charges, or other advantages. Rivalry for resources can cause conflicts but it does not explain who takes whose side in a conflict situation. This book explores possibilities of reducing violent conflicts and ends with a case study, based on personal experience of the author, of conflict resolution." -- From book cover.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [171]-181) and index.
Why we need a new conflict theory -- The question -- How this volume is organised -- A decision theory of identification -- The necessity for strategies of inclusion and exclusion -- The conceptual instruments of exclusion and inclusion : social categories and their overlapping relations -- Economics as sociology--sociology as economics -- Markets of violence and the freedom of choice -- Ethnic emblems, diacritical features, identity markers--some east African examples -- Purity and power in Islamic and non-Islamic societies and the spectre of fundamentalism -- Language and ethnicity -- Conflict resolution : the experience with the Somali peace process -- On methods : how to be a conflict analyst.
"In popular perception cultural differences or ethnic affiliation are factors that cause conflict or political fragmentation although this is not borne out by historical evidence. This book puts forward an alternative conflict theory. The author develops a decision theory which explains the conditions under which differing types of identification are preferred. Group identification is linked to competition for resources like water, territory, oil, political charges, or other advantages. Rivalry for resources can cause conflicts but it does not explain who takes whose side in a conflict situation. This book explores possibilities of reducing violent conflicts and ends with a case study, based on personal experience of the author, of conflict resolution." -- From book cover.
Ethnic conflict.
Social conflict
Conflict management.