Politicized ethnicity: A subjective framework

Type Thesis

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This study examines contemporary ethnic politics cross-nationally and in three case studies: France, Malaysia, and Yugoslavia. The case studies conclude that although politicized ethnicity manifests behaviors which revolve about language, religious, and economic issues, ethnic politics is best understood in a context in which these issues are essentially dimensions of a larger subjective/shared identity which in itself is not the product of any of these issues but in fact shapes them. This case specific conclusion is then generalized by a 70-80 nation cross-national analysis which generates a multi-equation, non-recursive model of ethnicity, conflict, economic inequality, and state action. Within the context of the economic dimension of ethnic politics, the statistical analysis corroborates the case studies by suggesting that in comparison to class, ethnicity is a stronger vehicle for group identity and predictor of political violence. The dissertation concludes by placing the political behavior of ethnic groups within a framework which appropriates perspectives drawn from the social movement and interest group literatures.