What is Happening to the Political Science of Ethnic Conflict?

Abstract

The increasing pervasiveness of ethnic conflicts in South Asia has generated a growing body of publications that are of interest to regional and comparative specialists alike. In the last issue of the International Journal of Punjab Studies,¹Professor Mitra provided an extended discussion of the subject with particular reference to Punjab. This review article will address the issues raised by Mitra and critically examine the relevance and value of rational choice theory (RCT) for understanding contemporary ethnic conflicts in South Asia² with reference to three recent publications: Ahmed’s State, Nation and Ethnicity in South Asia, Ali’s Fearful State, and Pettigrew’s The Sikhs of the Punjab.³ It is suggested that the application of RCT to ethnic conflicts in South Asia suffers from serious weaknesses — weaknesses which can be better overcome by adopting the theoretically ‘messy centre approach’.