Ethnic conflict - Karl Cordell

Theseand other questions are the focus of this book. Investigating thecauses and consequences of ethnic conflict, the authors argue thatthe most effective responses are those that take into accountfactors at the local, state, regional and global level and whichavoid seeking simplistic explanations and solutions to what is atruly complex phenomenon. What matters most for understandingethnic conflicts are the choices that people make ? leaders andfollowers alike ? and not a set of mysterious unknowableforces.

Once weknow that ethnic conflicts are not difficult to understand, butthat there is a lot to understand about them, we can alsoappreciate that they are not impossible to resolve. However, ittakes skilful, committed and principled leaders to achieve justsolutions that are supported by their followers, and it takes thelong-term commitment of the international community to enable andsustain these solutions.