Abstract
This chapter presents a comprehensive review of the literature on ethnic diversity. It points out that what is clearly a major limitation if not an under-representation in the existing literature is that the emphasis is not directed to post-colonial societies and in particular small island states. In examining societies such as Fiji, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, it is evident that one has to rely on the plural society model to provide explanations for the accommodation of the ethnic communities within these countries. In utilizing the plural society model, what emerges is an essential difference between these post-colonial, transplanted societies and societies which are larger and have been fissured by ethnic diffractions or what may be described as ethnic implosions within these communities.
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Notes
- 1.
They argued that this was a period marked by the consolidation of the process of decolonization in Africa and Asia as numerous new nation states were created.
- 2.
This is taken by way of easy refereeing from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_group
- 3.
Definition taken from Hutchinson and Smith (1996).
- 4.
- 5.
Guibernau and Rex in association with Blackwell Publishers: These writers have presented a much expanded account of the various theories.
- 6.
This model was proposed by Hechter (1974).
- 7.
Quoted in Nazroo and Karlsen (2003).
- 8.
Younger (2010).
- 9.
For more of this, see book by Bissessar and La Guerre (2013).
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Bissessar, A.M. (2017). The Persistence of Ethnic Communities. In: Ethnic Conflict in Developing Societies . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53709-2_2
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