Peace and Conflict in Inter-Group Relations by Agnes Katalin Koos M.A., University of New Orleans, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Political Science Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Agnes K. Koos 2013 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Spring 2013 All rights reserved. However, in accordance with the Copyright Act of Canada, this work may be reproduced, without authorization, under the conditions for “Fair Dealing.” Therefore, limited reproduction of this work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review and news reporting is likely to be in accordance with the law, particularly if cited appropriately. Approval Name: Agnes Katalin Koos Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science) Title of Thesis: Peace and Conflict in Inter-Group Relations Examining Committee: Chair: James Busumtwi-Sam, Associate Professor Michael Howard Senior Supervisor Professor David Laycock Supervisor Professor Paul Warwick Supervisor Professor Cindy Patton Internal Examiner Professor Department of Sociology and Anthropology Antje Ellermann External Examiner Associate Professor, Department of Political Science University of British Columbia Date Defended/Approved: April 8, 2013 ii Partial Copyright Licence iii Abstract The dissertation aims to contribute to the explanation of internal inter-group conflict, more narrowly of the conflict between majority and minority communal groups. It develops arguments that suggest the importance of inter-group economic inequality in bringing about inter-group hostility, and works toward providing empirical support for this causal connection by primarily relying on a large-N cross-national research design. This design culminates in multivariate regression models. Because of data availability issues, the task of addressing multiple potential determinants of the inter-group conflict advocated in the literature has been implemented by involving three datasets, of which two serve group-level analyses and one confines itself to the country level. The datasets are compilations of previous scholarly work, mainly based on the Ethnic Power Relations, Minorities at Risk (MAR), and Quality of Government data, with the addition of some new measurements, such as the main explanatory variable, economic inequality. Findings from all three datasets support the impact of horizontal economic inequality on inter-group hostility, measured either as group grievance or violent conflict. This double measurement of the inter-group conflict, as grievance and as violence, answers an intuition that not all low-to-medium strength hostility is doomed to develop into violent conflict. In fortunate conditions, the issues can be solved, or compromises may be reached without turning to violence. A large number of variables in the regression models operationalize constellations that influence the evolution of conflicts toward either peaceful solutions or armed collision. In general, the models provide support for previous expectations promoted in the literature regarding the beneficial impact of democracy and political equality of the groups, but also for the adverse impact of the opportunities for insurrection. Some institutional variables have been defined in ways that they allow for distinguishing between the outcomes of two brands of policies recommended for heterogeneous societies, as advised by Lijphart and Horowitz. Further benefits from the project include the construction of an almost complete list of communal groups worldwide, with 860 groups, which usefully contextualizes MAR’s selection of 282 minority groups. Data also allowed for comparing the causes of communal and social conflicts. Keywords: Communal groups; minority groups; inter-group hostility; inter-group economic inequality iv Acknowledgements Simon Fraser University offered me an inspiring and challenging intellectual environment for carrying out my research project. I thank my supervisors and professors for help and advice. I am also indebted to all scholars whose work I relied on, primarily to the creators of the datasets without which this research could not have been realized. First I have to mention the teams bringing about the Ethnic Power Relations, Minorities at Risk, Quality of Government, and Failed States Index datasets, but the overall list is much longer and includes the authors of survey series such as MICS, DHS, WVS, and so many more. I gratefully acknowledge receipt of several grants from Simon Fraser University during my doctoral program here, totalling 39,500 Canadian dollars (five Graduate Fellowships, one Graduate Scholarship, and one Graduate Entrance Scholarship). v Table of Contents Approval .......................................................................................................................... ii Partial Copyright Licence ............................................................................................... iii Abstract .......................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ........................................................................................................... vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................. ix List of Figures................................................................................................................ xiii List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................xiv Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 Theoretical Background (Chapter 2) ................................................................................ 5 Hypotheses and Research Design (Chapter 3) ............................................................... 9 1 Hypotheses ......................................................................................................... 9 2 Research Design ............................................................................................... 18 Data (Chapter 4, Parts of Chapter 6 and 7) ................................................................... 20 Data Analysis (Chapters 5, 6, and 7) ............................................................................. 26 Chapter 2. Literature Review ...................................................................................... 31 Introduction: The Theoretical Background of the Argument ........................................... 31 1 Social Psychology ............................................................................................. 34 2 Political Science I .............................................................................................. 34 3 Sociological Outlook .......................................................................................... 35 4 Political Science II ............................................................................................. 37 Social Psychology: Explaining Intergroup Behavior ....................................................... 39 Political Science I: Explaining Violent Conflict ............................................................... 51 1 The Country’s Group Structure .......................................................................... 55 2 Institutions ......................................................................................................... 57 3 Group Grievances ............................................................................................. 58 4 Greed ................................................................................................................ 60 5 Opportunities for Insurrection ............................................................................ 61 6 Development Level ............................................................................................ 63 Sociological Outlook: Nationalism, Identities, and Social Justice .................................. 64 Political Science II: Preventing Violent Conflicts – The Policies ..................................... 77 1 Constitutional designs that prevent deadly ethnic conflicts ................................ 84 2 Support for minority political mobilization and participation ................................ 88 3 The policy goals or ideals governing institutions and policies pertinent to majority-minority relationship ............................................................................. 90 4 Protecting the vulnerable against discrimination and abuse ............................... 91 Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 92 Chapter 3. Hypotheses and Model ............................................................................. 95 Three Cases Supporting the EI-PC Nexus .................................................................... 97 1 Roma in East Europe ........................................................................................ 97 vi 2 Blacks in Cuba ................................................................................................ 105 3 Chinese Diaspora in South-East Asia .............................................................