Ethno political conflict in Sri Lanka
By A.R.M. Imtiyaz and Ben Stavis
This study examines ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. The major thesis is that politicization of ethnic distinctions by major political parties has fuelled an ethnic violence and conflict in Sri Lanka. The study employs an interactive approach to understand violence of both parties. Each party’s violence against the other increases the sense of distrust between them. Political elites then use ethnic emotions in their quest for power, reinforcing ethnic tensions. This paper also discusses some fundamental historical factors that play a role in understanding Sri Lanka’s ethnic violence. It finally suggests solutions to the protracted ethno-political conflict -- partition or power-sharing.
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Published in the The Journal of Third World Studies, Vol 25, No 2, Fall 2008.
A.R.M. Imtiyaz is a Visiting scholar, Department of Political Science, Temple University, USA.
Dr. Ben Stavis is Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science, Temple University, USA.
2 Comments
Sir, this is a well-researched study….I don’t think it is only meant for intellectuals; it should be widely distributed in its original form among all Sri Lankans. Sri Lankans, especially Sinhalese, are living in darkness...let them see the light.
When Sri Lanka will have an OBAMA?
thnak you very much for the impartial arguement
giving all possible solutions including power sharing and cessation amongst others. It is a shame that the left in Sri Lanka and the left amongst the Tamil community etc cannot even consider cessation as a possible solution. Their own agendas on creating socialist utopias( and any impedements to it are seriously dismissed) are are falling staraight into the hands of Sinhala nationalism.