The Future of Ethnic Violence

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the book's major findings regarding ethnic violence before considering the future of ethnic violence and potential policy prescriptions that might help to limit the prevalence of ethnic violence. The book has presented strong and consistent evidence that modernity promoted ethnic violence by strengthening and proliferating ethnic consciousness. It has also identified two motives that commonly trigger ethnic violence: emotional prejudice and ethnic obligations. Furthermore, modernity enhanced diverse resources that facilitated the mobilization of ethnic violence. The chapter concludes the book by discussing the risk of ethnic violence among early and late modernizers, with a focus on Western Europe and North America. It also considers three policy options for limiting ethnic violence: multiculturalism, federalism, and consociationalism. Finally, it predicts that ethnic violence will continue near present levels over the next decade but should decline slightly due to lower levels of violence among late modernizers.