Review Essay

A review essay on a book by Jack David Ellet, The Synergy of Culture and Realpolitik in Ethnic Conflict. From Culture to Ethnicity to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflict (Ann Arbor: U Michigan Press, 1999). This text investigates the connection between ethnicity...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Migration Review 2000-12, Vol.34 (4), p.1283-1289
Main Author: Eller, Jack David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology
Culture
Ethnic Relations
Ethnonationalism
Social Conflict
Sociocultural Factors
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:A review essay on a book by Jack David Ellet, The Synergy of Culture and Realpolitik in Ethnic Conflict. From Culture to Ethnicity to Conflict: An Anthropological Perspective on International Ethnic Conflict (Ann Arbor: U Michigan Press, 1999). This text investigates the connection between ethnicity, culture, & conflict. Eller's critique of American culture for failing to anticipate the reemergence of ethnic conflict, assertion that anthropological methods can properly analyze ethnic conflict, & delineation of culture as the product of underlying social, political, & economic forces are discussed. Eller's analyses of ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, Rwanda & Burundi, Bosnia, & Quebec & among the Kurds are subsequently examined. It is claimed that Eller provides an inadequate account of the cultural factors that promoted ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. Moreover, Eller is severely criticized for offering a gross misinterpretation of the relations between Quebec nationalism & the Canadian state. Although Eller's text is praised for demonstrating the extent of dynamic change in culture & history over time, his book is also critiqued for overlooking the role of external forces in creating extremist ethnonationalist movements. J. W. Parker
ISSN:0197-9183
1747-7379
DOI:10.1177/019791830003400408