If, as is commonly asserted, ethnic entrepreneurs manipulate ethnic identities to advance their economic and political selfinterests, then it is important to ask why the members of the ethnic group allow themselves to be maneuvered from above.

Why do the followers follow, and what does that say about the genuineness of ethnic ties? I accept the existence of a cleavage between ethnic elites and members in terms of their basic concerns.

However, I contend that elites can manage their memberships because they tap into something genuine: a deep desire for inclusion in the identity group, an uncertainty that the state will prove a reliable and effective protector, and a fear that the balance of forces among groups will shift decisively to the disadvantage of their community. Thus, political leaders can play the ethnic card not only because they champion the material and nonmaterial concerns of their group membership, but also because the members have genuine uncertainties about their security and the security of their children. In an attempt to cope with these uncertainties, I will discuss five institutional arrangements: reserved seats in the legislature, proportional representation, transethnic electoral requirements in presidential elections, ethnic federalism, and inclusive power-sharing arrangements - valued by exposed minorities for their ability to protect the security and well-being of vulnerable groups.

The problem that must be addressed, then, is how and to what extent can the state reassure its power minorities about their safety and economic well-being in the years ahead? And to what extent, when state norms collapse and civil wars take place, can international mediators take up the slack and facilitate commitment to peace agreements, overcoming basic insecurities among weaker parties about the intentions of ruling state elites?

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Source: Bercovitch Jacob, Kremenyuk Victor, Zartman I. William (eds).. The SAGE Handbook of Conflict Resolution. SAGE Publications,2009. — 704 p.. 2009

If, as is commonly asserted, ethnic entre­preneurs manipulate ethnic identities to advance their economic and political self­interests, then it is important to ask why the members of the ethnic group allow themselves to be maneuvered from above.

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If, as is commonly asserted, ethnic entrepreneurs manipulate ethnic identities to advance their economic and political selfinterests, then it is important to ask why the members of the ethnic group allow themselves to be maneuvered from above.

More on the topic If, as is commonly asserted, ethnic entrepreneurs manipulate ethnic identities to advance their economic and political selfinterests, then it is important to ask why the members of the ethnic group allow themselves to be maneuvered from above.: