Super Short Summary

In Ethnic Groups in Conflict (1985), Donald Horowitz explores the complexity and rationality of ethnic conflicts, arguing against reductive interpretations and emphasizing that ethnic affiliations are more momentary and fragmented than assumed. He examines how group identities form based on political affordances and critiques the lack of foundational principles in the sociology of ethnicity. Horowitz discusses the varying degrees of societal division, the emergence of hierarchies, and centralization trends, highlighting the complexity of ascribed differences like ethnicity. He presents a social psychological theory of ethnic conflict, rejecting economic self-interestedness and modernization theories, arguing that institutions manipulate ethnic sentiment. Additionally, Horowitz analyzes the interplay between ethnic conflict and partisan politics, advocating for responsive political systems and illustrating his points with examples from various nations.