| Global events in the post-World War 2 era demonstrate that the security threats stemming from the intensification of intra-state conflicts put a premium on the development of conflict management techniques. While such internal conflicts assume different forms, this dissertation focuses on understanding the dynamics of one type, ethno-regional conflicts or separatist movements, with the objective of their management. In ethno-regional conflicts, politicized ethnic groups challenge the sovereignty of the state. The rebellion against the state is defined in ethnic terms, and the goal of challenger groups range from greater regional devolution to secession. For these conflicts to be designated as "managed," it is crucial that an agreement is met within the existing state framework, unless both parties to the conflict hold that separation is the best alternative.; Since each separatist movement exhibits distinctive traits, it may not be possible to construct a single theory of ethno-regional conflict management. This does not suggest, however, that each conflict be treated in isolation. Instead, with the ultimate goal of developing strategies that can meet the challenge of managing this class of conflicts, a major theoretical and policy question my dissertation investigates is: under what circumstances are ethno-regional conflicts successfully managed, or conversely, what leads to their protraction? Towards this end, I develop a model of ethno-regional conflict evolution. This model, resembling a decision-tree, captures the key interactions between the two main actors in the conflict, i.e. the government and autonomy seekers, as ethno-regional conflicts evolve. In this manner, the scheme identifies the circumstances that facilitate or exacerbate the management of ethno-regional conflicts. Thus, with the aid of the scheme, it is possible to highlight obstacles to management that form the basis for future policy prescriptions.; While the scheme is designed for application to any ethno-regional conflict, I apply it to three cases in South Asia that represent different conflict levels of management. Indian Mizoram represents successful management, with the case of the break-up of Pakistan portraying the polar opposite, failed management by the state. Sri Lanka, a case of conflict protraction, falls between these two extremes. Through an analysis of these cases, the aim is to test and refine the broad evolutionary trends identified in my scheme. Insights from these cases assist in developing tentative propositions of conflict management. These, in turn, can prove useful both in preventing future conflicts, and in providing clues to altering the paths of ongoing conflicts. |
