TY - BOOK ID - 5279968 TI - Modern hatreds : the symbolic politics of ethnic war PY - 2001 SN - 0801438020 0801487366 1501702009 1501701991 9781501702006 9780801438028 9780801487361 9781501701993 PB - New York: Cornell university press, DB - UniCat KW - Atrocities KW - Atrocités KW - Europe, Eastern KW - Caucasus KW - Europe de l'Est KW - Caucase KW - Ethnic relations KW - Political aspects KW - Politics and government KW - Relations interethniques KW - Aspect politique KW - Politique et gouvernement KW - Political aspects. KW - Politics and government. KW - Atrocités KW - Military atrocities KW - Caucasia KW - Caucasus Mountains KW - Caucasus Region KW - Kavkaz KW - East Europe KW - Eastern Europe KW - Cruelty KW - War crimes KW - Atrocities - Europe, Eastern KW - Europe, Eastern - Ethnic relations - Political aspects KW - Europe, Eastern - Politics and government - 1989 KW - -Caucasus - Ethnic relations - Political aspects KW - Caucasus - Politics and government UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:5279968 AB - Ethnic conflict has been the driving force of wars all over the world, yet it remains an enigma. What is it about ethnicity that breaks countries apart and drives people to acts of savage violence against their lifelong neighbors?Stuart Kaufman rejects the notion of permanent "ancient hatreds" as the answer. Dissatisfied as well with a purely rationalist explanation, he finds the roots of ethnic violence in myths and symbols, the stories ethnic groups tell about who they are. Ethnic wars, Kaufman argues, result from the politics of these myths and symbols-appeals to flags and faded glories that aim to stir emotions rather than to address interests. Popular hostility based on these myths impels groups to follow extremist leaders invoking such emotion-laden ethnic symbols. If ethnic domination becomes their goal, ethnic war is the likely result.Kaufman examines contemporary ethnic wars in the Caucasus and southeastern Europe. Drawing on information from a variety of sources, including visits to the regions and dozens of personal interviews, he demonstrates that diplomacy and economic incentives are not enough to prevent or end ethnic wars. The key to real conflict resolution is peacebuilding-the often-overlooked effort by nongovernmental organizations to change hostile attitudes at both the elite and the grassroots levels. ER -