The paradox of ethnic partition: Lessons from de facto partition in Bosnia and Kosovo

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Abstract (may include machine translation)

This article argues that ethnic partition, rather than resolving ethnic security dilemmas endemic to ethnic civil wars, has the paradoxical effect of reproducing wartime ethnic cleavages in the post-war period. This is because segregating combatant groups into militarily defensible self-governing territories tends to undermine the central government, ensures successive electoral victories of ultra-nationalists, and puts state resources in the hands of ethnic militia leaders who have incentives to perpetuate the conflict. This argument is illustrated in the cases of post-war Bosnia and Kosovo, which show that the unwillingness of the international community to implement the integrationist elements of the peace arrangements has amplified the challenge of rebuilding peaceful state societies today.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)273-289
Number of pages17
JournalRegional and Federal Studies
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2009

Keywords

  • Balkans
  • Bosnia
  • Conflict
  • Intervention
  • Kosovo
  • Partition
  • Peacebuilding

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