An Exclusion Model of Ethnic Conflict.

The author presents a model of ethnic conflict that attempts to satisfy the criteria of comprehensiveness, persuasiveness, and coherence. The attribute of actions posited to be most instrumental in provoking conflict and to be common to proximate causes is exclusion. Conflict is made more likely by any of a host of actions that attempt to exclude or separate an out-group from some manner of resource. The author describes a crude typology of exclusionary actions and examines: (1) one of the more extreme forms of exclusionary action, ethnic murder, and its connection to group mobilization for conflict; (2) various factors that may condition relationships between exclusionary actions and conflict mobilization including: states of inequality; declining economic conditions; cultural values; dissolution of empires; contagion from past and surrounding conflicts; demonization; and factors that incline elites to engage in exclusionary actions; and (3) the consistency of the model with emerging biologically-based understandings of human nature. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]