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The role of a minority's reference state in ethnic relations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Pieter van Houten
Pieter van Houten
Affiliation:
University of Chicago, (Chicago).
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Abstract

This article presents a model of the triangular relationship between minority, majority, and the minority's reference state which is a feature of many ethnic relations. The presence of a reference state can overcome a potential commitment problem between minority and majority if it is perceived to be both militarily strong and moderately irredentist. Empirical material from Croatia, Transylvania, Estonia and Crimea suggests the plausibility of the model. Russia's role as a reference state is particularly interesting.

L'article présente un modèle de relation triangulaire entre minorité, majorité et l'État de référence pour la minorité comme schéma des relations interethniques. La présence d'un État de référence permet de surmonter un possible problème de conflit de loyauté entre majorité et minorité, si cet État est perçu comme militairement puissant et modérément irrédenriste. Des données empiriques concernant la Croatie, la Transylvanie, l'Estonie, la Crimée et surtout la Russie plaident pour la plausibilité du modèle.

Die Dreiecksbeziehung zwischen Minderheit, Mehrheit und dem Bezugsstaat der Minderheit, typisch fur viele ethnische Beziehungen, soil hier als Modell schematisiert werden. Die Berufung auf einen Bezugsstaat kann ein potenoelles Verpflichtungsproblem zwischen Minderheit und Mehrheit überwinden helfen, wenn er sowohl als militärisch stark, als auch als irredentistisch gilt. Erfahrungen aus Kroatien, Transsylvanien, Estland und der Krim lassen dieses Modell plausibel erscheinen. Vor allen Dingen Rußlands Rolle als Bezugsland ist von Interesse.

Type
Making credible commitments
Information
European Journal of Sociology / Archives Européennes de Sociologie , Volume 39 , Issue 1 , May 1998 , pp. 110 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © Archives Européenes de Sociology 1998

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