Managing Ethnic Conflicts

Course Description

Summary

How should states and the international community respond to protracted and violent conflicts involving ethnic, linguistic, religious and other identity groups? This is/was one of the central challenges of politics and governance in places as diverse as Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Fiji, Iraq, India, Indonesia, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, Nigeria, Rwanda/Burundi, Sri Lanka and The Sudans. This course will examine contending explanations for ethnic conflicts, alternative political and constitutional strategies for managing inter-group conflicts, the challenges and opportunities raised by international mediation in deeply divided societies, and case studies of relatively successful and unsuccessful ethnic conflict management.