Ethnic mobilization, equality and conflict in multi-ethnics states

@phdthesis{ethnic-mobilization-equality-and-conflict-in-multi-ethnics-states,
   title = {Ethnic mobilization, equality and conflict in multi-ethnics states},
   author = {Vogt, Manuel},
   school = {ETH Zurich},
   type = {{PhD} dissertation},
   doi = {10.3929/ethz-a-010086689},
   url = {http://e-collection.library.ethz.ch/view/eth:8166},
   year = {2013},
   abstract = {What are the effects of ethnic mobilization on ethnic equality and conflict? Most of the existing literature has seen ethnic mobilization as harmful to democracy and peace. In contrast, this study argues that the effect of ethnic political parties and civil society organizations depends on the type of multi-ethnic society at hand. Based on a theoretical and empirical analysis of the link between different ethnic markers and ethno-political inequality, this study develops a typology of \textquotedblleft ranked\textquotedblright  and \textquotedblleft unranked\textquotedblright  ethnic systems. Ranked systems are defined as countries characterized by the dominance of a European or European-descendant group over other groups perceived to be racially distinct. The latter are based on other ethnic cleavages, such as language, and are characterized by more equal ethnic group relations without a historically determined hierarchy. The study argues that the patterns and effects of ethnic mobilization should differ significantly between these two types of multi-ethnic societies. It tests this claim with both quantitative and qualitative methods, combining statistical analyses with four case studies based on field research. Empirically, it presents two new datasets on ethnic and transethnic civil society organizations in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The empirical analyses reveal four main findings. First, ethnic group mobilization follows different motivations in ranked and unranked systems. Second, ethnic parties increase the risk of ethnic dominance and violence in unranked systems. Third, the processes of mobilization, inequality, and conflict in unranked systems often follow a vicious or virtuous cycle. Fourth, in ranked systems, ethnic parties and civil society organizations increase the level of peaceful collective action only. Yet, they enhance ethnic equality by empowering historically marginalized groups. The case studies reconstruct the mechanisms by which ethnic organizations influence equality and conflict. The study concludes by discussing both the theoretical and practical implications of these results}
}