Sisk argues that democratic approaches offer the most promise for the long term management of ethnic conflict. Simple majority rule is not an effective form of democracy for ethnically divided societies. It simply disenfranchises minorities. Democratic forms which emphasize power-sharing show more promise. In consociational democracies ethnic groups are treated analogously to confederated states.
Groups have internal autonomy, and group leaders negotiate amongst themselves to manage conflict.
Integrative democracies seek to encourage moderation in group leaders and to encourage intergroup cooperation at all levels of government. Each approach to democracy has its characteristic techniques for managing conflicts. Chapter Four describes these techniques. Consociational techniques include granting groups territorial autonomy, employing proportional representation in administrative appointments and parliamentary elections, and recognizing group rights. Integrative techniques focus on creating a unitary, inclusive central state.