ABSTRACT How is the experience of ethnic conflict associated with ethnic identity? While the study of ethnic identity has often focused on the role of political institutions, we contribute to the discussion that the experience of ethnic conflict should be considered as an important factor that can influence ethnic identity. Further, studies that examine the impact of ethnic conflict on ethnic identity have not reached a consensus about whether ethnic conflict hardens or weakens ethnic identity. Thus we aim to expand this scholarship by using survey data across 33 countries to formulate a generalizable argument regarding the effects of ethnic conflict on ethnic identity. The results of our analysis show that within their ethnic groups, the experience of ethnic conflict is associated with a stronger sense of ethnic identity. However, we also find evidence that there is a U-shaped relationship between conflict duration and ethnic identity. In other words, although a longer conflict duration is initially associated with a weakened ethnic identity, a longer conflict duration eventually strengthens the sense of ethnic identity again.
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