Globalization Discontent: The Effects of Globalization on Ethnic Protest

Abstract

In the wake of the Cold War political and economic forces were unleashed that culminated in a wave of ethnic conflict and civil wars on multiple continents. Yet prior to any ethnic conflict or civil war are potentially violent precursors, namely protest. This work examines the link between globalization and ethnic protest. Specifically, we identify socioeconomic factors that lead to ethnic protest. Protest represents the first stage of the process that leads to ethnic conflict, civil war, insurgence, and revolution. Each of these forms of political violence has at its base some sort of grievance. Governments are not willing or able to address these grievances thus protest can be seen as the precursor to greater conflict. In this work we examine a period of time where various forms of conflict peaked in terms of number of active conflicts: 1990-1995. A multiple regression model is constructed that tests the various factors of globalization. Robust findings point to aspects of globalization that increase protest and some that may decrease protest. The paper concludes with potential avenues for policy reform that may help to alleviate the root causes of ethnic protest.