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Why Minorities Rebel: A Global Analysis of Communal Mobilization and Conflict since 1945

International Political Science Review · 1993 · 627 citations · 31 references

TL;DR

Political protest and rebellion by communal groups has become a major impetus to domestic and international political change. The study aims to assess a general model of how and why communal groups mobilize to defend and promote their collective interests. It does so by using newly coded data on 227 communal groups worldwide. Statistical analysis shows that cultural identity, inequalities, historical loss of autonomy, political mobilization, grievances, international diffusion, contagion, democracy, state power, and institutional change jointly explain the extent and form of communal conflict, with grievances and diffusion driving mobilization and institutional factors determining protest versus rebellion.

Abstract

Political protest and rebellion by communal groups has become a major impetus to domestic and international political change. This study uses new coded data on 227 communal groups throughout the world to assess a general model of how and why they mobilize to defend and promote their collective interests. Statistical analysis shows that cultural identity, inequalities, and historical loss of autonomy all contribute substantially to their grievances. Political mobilization, grievances, and the international diffusion and contagion of communal conflict jointly explain the extent of political action in the 1980s. Democracy, state power, and institutional change help determine whether conflict takes the form of protest or rebellion.