Original scientific paper
War and Tolerance
Duško Sekulić
; Flinders University, Australia
Randy Hodson
; Ohio State University, USA
Garth Massey
; University of Wyoming, USA
Abstract
Within what theoretical framework - the primordialist versus the instrumentalist orientation - can ethnic mobilization and conflict best be explained? Having in mind the debates in connection with the dissolution of Yugoslavia, in our paper we address the question did an increase in ethnic tensions and subsequent armed conflict between the parties follow the increase in ethnic intolerance? Or, did ethnic intolerance increase as a consequence of the conflict itself. The first result would be more in accordance with the primordialist view. The second is what would be expected from the instrumentalist one. In order to answer the question we used three sets of survey data collected in Croatia in 1985, 1989 and 1996. The period between the first two surveys was one of rising tensions; the “explosion” and open armed conflict followed (1991-1995). The third survey was done in the inital period of peace.
Our conclusion is that intolerance did not precede but rather followed the outbursts of war and the atrocities connected with it. Therefore we argue that our findings are more in accordance with instrumentalist than with piimordialist theories. Nevertheless, our analysis serves only to discredit primordialism rather than providing instrumentalism to be the best explanatory theory for the Balkans' conflicts.
Keywords
ethnic mobilization; dissolution of Yugoslavia; war
Hrčak ID:
153852
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2002.
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