Article

Globalization and the Prevention of Ethnic Wars at the Local Level: A Cross-Country Analysis

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Abstract

This study seeks to investigate how economic globalization and the rule of law affect the onset of ethnic war at the local level. While several empirical studies have explored the roles of globalization and the rule of law on large-scale civil war, most ethnic wars do not reach the intensity of civil war. As a consequence, we have a weak understanding of how globalization and rule of law affect the risk of ethnic war. This study links the literatures on ethnic war, globalization, and the rule of law, and examines the concomitant effects of economic globalization and rule of law on low-intensity ethnic war onsets. It is expected that both can reduce the risk of ethnic war because each constrains state power and, at the same time, enhances opportunities for ethnic inclusion. Analyses of 140 countries from 1997 to 2010 show that both economic globalization and the rule of law significantly lower the risk of low-intensity ethnic war, and the discrimination of ethnic populations increases this risk. To facilitate peace at local levels, international policy makers and states should promote global economic integration, the rule of law, and ethnic inclusion.

Keywords: pluralism, ethnic violence, governance, rule of law, globalization, pluralism, ethnic violence, governance, rule of law, globalization, ethnic war prevention

How to Cite:

Mousseau, D. Y., (2021) “Globalization and the Prevention of Ethnic Wars at the Local Level: A Cross-Country Analysis”, Negotiation and Conflict Management Research 14(3). doi: https://doi.org/10.34891/n2jt-1926