Ethnic conflicts are world-wide phenomena producing discrimination, violence, and at times, unspeakable atrocities. Two thirds of international conflicts today are ethnopolitical conflicts. Some are long-entrenched disputes dating back centuries. Others are the by-products of recent trends in immigration or politics.

The Handbook of Ethnic Conflict examines the social, psychological, historical and political underpinnings of these conflicts-particularly the ethnic, cultural, religious, and national identities that feed ingroup/outgroup antagonistic perceptions and fuel cycles of aggression. It covers leading theories and models of interethnic conflict and provides in-depth analyses of twenty conflicts as diverse as those in Croatia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Israel, and New Zealand. It examines phenomena that have not received the attention they deserve, such as the obstacles presented by differing accounts of the origins and dynamics of given conflict. In each case, and in the book's concluding chapter, contributors suggest creative responses to ethnic friction utilizing innovative intercultural approaches, conflict management approaches, and peace-building strategies.

Major features:

· Worldwide coverage: includes conflicts in Southeast Asia, China, the Pacific Rim, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, Western Europe, and the Balkans.

· Extensive analyses of the dynamics of interethnic hostility as well as of the relevant current and historical social, psychological, political and economic conditions.

· Contributors from a variety of cultures anddisciplines.

· Comparisons across diverse conflicts in the concluding chapter.

· Suggestions for diminishing prejudice and discrimination, and improving inter-ethnic relations in multi-ethnic states

· Policy recommendations for reducing ethnic conflict.

Its unique presentation and wide range of information make the Handbook of Ethnic Conflict an effective reference for professionals, researchers, and educators working to understand, minimize, and eliminate interethnic conflict.Valuable for social psychologists, cross-cultural psychologists, political scientists, sociologists, communications scholars, and policymakers, ultimately, the Handbook is an important source for all persons who wish to contribute to a more peaceful world.

Zusammenfassung

Although group conflict is hardly new, the last decade has seen a proliferation of conflicts engaging intrastate ethnic groups. It is estimated that two-thirds of violent conflicts being fought each year in every part of the globe including North America are ethnic conflicts. Unlike traditional warfare, civilians comprise more than 80 percent of the casualties, and the economic and psychological impact on survivors is often so devastating that some experts believe that ethnic conflict is the most destabilizing force in the post-Cold War world. Although these conflicts also have political, economic, and other causes, the purpose of this volume is to develop a psychological understanding of ethnic warfare. More specifically, Handbook of Ethnopolitical Conflict explores the function of ethnic, religious, and national identities in intergroup conflict. In addition, it features recommendations for policy makers with the intention to reduce or ameliorate the occurrences and consequences of these conflicts worldwide.

Inhalt
Preface.- Theoretical Approaches in the Study of Ethno/Cultural Conflict.- Franco/Anglo Conflict in Canada.- Mexico's Ethnic Conflict.- Ethnic Conflict in Spain.- Ethnic Conflict in Ireland.- Muslims in the Netherlands.- Conflict in South Africa.- Confict in the South of Sudan.- Ideology of Small Differences: Dissolution and Fail of the Former Yugoslavia.- Crimea: Violence Avoided (A Study in Conflict Prevention).- Peacebuilding and Possibilities for Resolution in the Cyprus Conflict.- Armenians in Turkey.- Israel: The Homeland of Jews, Arabs, and Palestinians.- The Palestinians in Israel: Ethnic-national Identity Conflict.- Interobjectivity and Conflict within Islam.- Ethnic and Religious Conflicts in India.- Interethnic Conflict in Malaysia.- Ethnopolitical Conflict in Sri Lanka.- Ethnic Conflict in China.- Social Psychology of Peace and Conflict in Mindanao.- Ethnic Conflict in Australia.- Ethnic Relations in New Zealand: Culture, Conflict, and Cohesion.- Ethnocultural Conflict and Cooperation in Hawaii.- Lessons Learned: What We Know and What We Don't Know.