Citation

Imtiyaz ARM, Stavis B. Journal of Third World Studies 2008; 25(2): 135-152.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There is no comprehensive and widely accepted theory of the causes and consequences of ethno-political conflict but there is however, many factors that can lead to tensions between groups of people. These factors are explained in different methods: primordialist approach, constructivist theory, pre-colonial roots, Colonial History, and modernization theory. The study argues that the conflict in Sri Lanka is a result of the politicization of ethnic differences by the Sinhala elites in their quest for power. It comes to the point where Tamils felt that they are so powerless that they resort to a campaign of violence coupled with suicide bombing, resulting in multiple deaths. Desperately, the country needs ethnic peace. A political solution could be either separation or consociation which are both preferable to address the violence in the region. Assistance from the international community led by the United Nations is needed in order to find a sensible resolution.

Language: en

Keywords

violence; Asia; South Asia; Sri Lanka; United Nations; political conflict; ethnic conflict; peace process; Eurasia; political power; dispute resolution