Cultural Tension and Large- and Small-Scale Internal Conflicts


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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/1937

Keywords:

internal conflict, civil disorder, political violence, civil war, ethnic tension, religious tension, terrorism, ethnicity, religion

Abstract

This study analyzes how cultural tensions (i.e., ethnic and religious) affect various internal conflicts (e.g., civil war to civil disorder) across different regions. The study also examines the role of governance in mitigating the effects of cultural tensions on the emergence and escalation of conflict. The comprehensive study has 136 countries from 1990 to 2021, and panels are separated by region and OECD status. The study uses two-way fixed effects with Driscoll and Kraay standard errors to account for heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and cross-sectional dependence. Although there are some regional variations and nuances, the results indicate cultural tensions are significant determinants of (1) the broad measure of internal conflict, (2) civil wars/coups d’état, and (3) political violence/terrorism. Therefore, one implication is that cultural tension continues to drive internal conflict. A second implication is that even in OECD countries, where institutions and governance structures are robust, cultural tensions can still significantly contribute to the emergence and risks of internal conflict. However, ethnic and religious tensions are less influential in smaller-scale conflicts, such as civil disorders, where government stability is a more important determinant. Furthermore, the study finds that government strength is vital in moderating all forms of internal conflict, indicating that even moderate cultural tensions can escalate into significant conflicts in the presence of weak governance. The study underscores the ongoing importance of addressing ethnic and religious tensions. Policy recommendations to reduce cultural tensions include (1) promoting cultural inclusiveness within societal/political dimensions, (2) promoting tolerance, (3) allowing some autonomy to cultural enclaves, and (4) actively monitoring cultural tensions and policy initiatives.

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Author Biographies

Brandon Parsons, Pepperdine University

Brandon Parsons is a Practitioner of Economics at the Graziadio Business School of Pepperdine University. He has multiple publications in renowned journals such as Economics & Politics and the Eastern Economic Journal. Dr. Parsons has contributed to the fields of income inequality, political instability, and internal conflict. Brandon is a recipient of the 2023 Provost Grant Award. Dr. Parsons’ expert commentary has been featured in the LA Times, San Fernando Valley Business Journal, and ABC 7 News.

Shahdad Naghshpour , University of Southern Mississippi

Shahdad Naghshpour is a professor Emeritus at The University of Southern Mississippi. He has published over 80 journal articles in prestigious journals such as Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Peace Economics, Journal of Economics and Finance, Review of Regional Studies, and Politics and Policy. He has authored eight books and numerous book chapters. Dr. Naghshpour has received several awards for research as well as teaching. He was the 2016 Graduate Mentor of the Year. Dr. Naghshpour is on the editorial boards of five peer-reviewed journals, the past President, and a Research Fellow of the Academy of Economics and Finance.

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Published

2024-11-06

How to Cite

Parsons, B., & Naghshpour , S. . (2024). Cultural Tension and Large- and Small-Scale Internal Conflicts. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 11(4), 20–59. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/1937

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Original Manuscript
Received 2023-12-04
Accepted 2024-08-15
Published 2024-11-06