Matthew Wilson re-examines the question of whether certain political institutions increase the risk
of conflict in more ethnically diverse settings. Although scholars generally agree
that countries with more ethnic groups are more likely to experience domestic conflict,
some argue that specific features such as proportional representation and parliamentary
democracy exacerbate the risk of conflict where there is greater diversity. In the
forthcoming publication, Professor Wilson shows that this conclusion is based on tests
that ignore the impacts of ethnic polarization, or the division of society into a
few equally balanced groups based on ethnic differences. When this is taken into
consideration, proportional representation and parliamentary governments are actually
associated with a decreased risk of experiencing domestic conflict where ethnic diversity is greatest. The results
of the study are important because they help to inform decisions about what institutions
policymakers should recommend in countries that have experienced or are at risk for
ethnic conflict.
The research is forthcoming in Comparative Political Studies.