Identity and Institutions : Conflict Reduction in Divided Societies

by JESSE, NEAL G.; Williams, Kristen P.

• ISBN13: 9780791464519
• ISBN10: 0791464512
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-06-30
• Publisher: State Univ of New York Pr

Summary

How can conflicts between various nationalist/ethnic groups be reduced? Combining theory with case studies of Spain and Ireland. Neal G. Jesse and Kristen P. Williams develop an argument favoring a solution that links resolving issues of identity and preceptions of inequality to the extablishment of cross-national, democratic institutions. These institutions can affect deeply held attitudes by promoting overlapping identities and pooling sovereignty. Overlapping identities reduce tension by creating an atmosphere where different ethinic groups lose their strict definitions of Self and Other. Pooling sovereignty across a number of international (and natinal) representative bodies leads to increased access to governmental policymaking for all parties involved, with each nationalist/ethnic group having a stake in government. Increased access, moreover, reduces threat perceptions and ethnic security dilemmas, and increases trust--"all of which play an important role in overcoming such conflicts.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
Preface	xi
Chapter 1. Theory of Identity and Institutions	1	(22)
Chapter 2. Inequality and Nationalist Conflicts: The Dual Process of State-Building and Nation-Building in Spain	23	(32)
Chapter 3. Integrating Strong National Identities in the European Union	55	(28)
Chapter 4. Protestants, Catholics, and the Good Friday Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland	83	(30)
Chapter 5. Conclusion: Institutions and the Construction of Identity	113	(14)
Notes	127	(36)
Bibliography	163	(20)
Index	183	(8)
SUNY series in Global Politics	191