Ethnic Politics, Federalism and Anti-Regime Rebellion: An Alternate Theory

Abstract

Do ethnic political parties in federal countries increase the chance that the groups they represent will rebel against the central government? Some argue that decentralization, segmental autonomy and federalism, can check rebellion by satisfying groups’ desire for control of their own aairs and shifting political competition to the local level, thus shifting the focus of power and potential conict for it outward from the center. Others argue that decentralization leads to the development of regional or ethnic parties which increases the salience of ethnic cleavages, the passage of legislation discriminating against other groups and group mobilization for ethnic conict and secessionism. I