The Foundations of Ethnic Politics: Separatism of States and Nations in Eurasia and the World (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)
"The Foundations of Ethnic Politics addresses one of the most important subjects in contemporary social science: namely, why do some ethnic groups begin to demand independent states of their own, while others maintain allegiance to multinational states without pursuing separatist agendas? Henry Hale's unique synthesis of cutting-edge social psychological research and rational choice analysis, which he terms 'relational theory,' generates a fascinating and counterintuitive argument about how the seemingly unassailable U.S.S.R. fragmented so quickly into fifteen independent nation-states.  Scholars of comparative ethnic politics and nationalism in the post-Soviet context and beyond will find here an original theoretical angle that generates fresh ideas about longstanding debates."-Stephen Hanson, University of Washington"The Foundations of Ethnic Politics is a major new theoretical and empirical contribution to the burgeoning literatures on ethnicity and ethnic politics. A must read for students of these important subjects."-Michael Hechter, Arizona State University"The Foundations of Ethnic Politics offers a powerful and original theory of ethnic politics.  Distinguishing ethnic identification at the individual level from its deployment in group interaction in political settings, Henry Hale is able to show why in some cases ethnicity is associated with peaceful and cooperative relations while in others it is activated in movements for secession and conflict.  The book fruitfully applies the theory to an in-depth examination of the politics surrounding the break-up of the Soviet Union, focusing especially on Ukraine and Uzbekistan.  Hale explains why it was that, based on their respective assessments of the likelihood that their republics would be exploited in a Russian-dominated union, Ukraine's leaders drove for secession while Uzbekistan sought to preserve the union.  He further shows the implications of his theory for the development of the Commonwealth of Independent States since 1991 and for ethnicity's role in separatism and integration in international politics more generally.  This is an important book with wide ranging implications."-Thomas F. Remington, Emory University