Beyond isolation: towards cooperative relations and the resolution of ethnic conflicts in a contemporary African society

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to find a viable solution to the scourge of ethnic violence in contemporary African society. We reject the thesis that the spate of ethnic violence being witnessed in African societies is a product of the divergence in culture between ethnic groups. We contend that class interests disguised in ethnic robes usually engender ethnic conflict. Other factors found to underlie ethnic conflicts include the sentiments and expectations of non-elites and perceived social injustice. Our thesis is that rather than isolating ethnic groups in order to reduce the possibility of conflicts, efforts should be made to institute positive inter-group contact and cooperative relations between them. Consequently, we highlight a number of measures that may be taken to develop cooperation instead of competition and rivalry between the diverse ethnic groups constituting African states.