David Carment Knihy

The book explores the complex dynamics of ethnic tensions and the conditions under which they escalate into violence. It introduces a fourfold typology based on ethnic composition and institutional constraints, revealing that states with high constraints and diverse ethnicities intervene primarily for national interests. In contrast, those with ethnic dominance and low constraints are more inclined to intervene. The authors suggest that ethnic affinity and cleavage play a crucial role in catalyzing these interventions, providing insights into the motivations behind state actions.

This book examines the dynamic processes by which communities establish distinct notions of 'home' and 'belonging'. Focusing on the agency of diasporic groups, rather than (forced or voluntary) dispersion and a continued longing for the country of origin, it analyses how a diaspora presence impacts relations between 'home' and host countries. Its central concern is the specific role that diasporas play in global cooperation, including cases without a successful outcome. Bridging the divide between diaspora studies and international relations, it will appeal to sociologists, scholars of migration, anthropologists and policy-makers.