E-Book Overview
The Geography of Ethnic Violence is the first among numerous distinguished books on ethnic violence to clarify the vital role of territory in explaining such conflict. Monica Toft introduces and tests a theory of ethnic violence, one that provides a compelling general explanation of not only most ethnic violence, civil wars, and terrorism but many interstate wars as well. This understanding can foster new policy initiatives with real potential to make ethnic violence either less likely or less destructive. It can also guide policymakers to solutions that endure.The book offers a distinctively powerful synthesis of comparative politics and international relations theories, as well as a striking blend of statistical and historical case study methodologies. By skillfully combining a statistical analysis of a large number of ethnic conflicts with a focused comparison of historical cases of ethnic violence and nonviolence--including four major conflicts in the former Soviet Union--it achieves a rare balance of general applicability and deep insight.Toft concludes that only by understanding how legitimacy and power interact can we hope to learn why some ethnic conflicts turn violent while others do not. Concentrated groups defending a self-defined homeland often fight to the death, while dispersed or urbanized groups almost never risk violence to redress their grievances. Clearly written and rigorously documented, this book represents a major contribution to an ongoing debate that spans a range of disciplines including international relations, comparative politics, sociology, and history.
E-Book Content
THE GEOGRAPHY OF ETHNIC VIOLENCE
This page intentionally left blank
THE GEOGRAPHY OF ETHNIC VIOLENCE IDENTIT Y, INTER ESTS, AND THE INDIVISIBILIT Y OF TERRITORY
Monica Duffy Toft
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
PRINCETON AND OXFORD
Copyright 䉷 2003 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, 3 Market Place, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1SY All Rights Reserved ISBN: 0-691-11354-8 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Toft, Monica Duffy, 1965– The geography of ethnic violence: identity, interests, and the indivisibility of territory / Monica Duffy Toft. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-691-11354-8 (alk. paper) 1. Political violence. 2. Partition, Territorial. 3. Nationalism. 4. Human geography. 5. Ethnic conflict—Former Soviet republics—Case studies. 6. Former Soviet republics—Ethnic relations—Case studies. I. Title. JC328.6 .T64 2003 303.6—dc21 2002042463 British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available This book has been composed in Galliard. Printed on acid-free paper. ⬁ www.pupress.princeton.edu Printed in the United States of America 10
9
8
7
6
5 4
3
2
1
To Ivan
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
Illustrations
ix
Preface
xi
1. The Forgotten Meaning of Territory
1
2. Indivisible Territory and Ethnic War
17
3. Territory and Violence: A Statistical Assessment
34
4. Russia and Tatarstan
45
5. Russia and Chechnya
64
6. Georgia and Abkhazia
87
7. Georgia and Ajaria
107
8. Conclusion
127
Appendix Tables
149
Notes
167
References
203
Index
219
This page intentionally left blank
Illustrations
Tables 2.1. 2.2. 3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 3.4. 3.5. 3.6. 3.7. 4.1. 5.1. 6.1. 8.1.
Ethnic Groups and the Demand for Sovereignty Bargaining Model: Indivisibi