Ethnic Separatism

Why do some ethnic groups adopt a separatist political ideology, while others embrace integration in the host society, and others still choose "accommodation without assimilation"? Can separatism be linked to specific demographic, ecological, historical, or economic factors? What cultural characteristics precipitate or defuse separatist trends? Does regional particularism lead to ethnogenesis, and is this process a precursor to ethnic separatism? How do state ideologies and perceptions of separatism correlate? Is separatism a conflict-resolution strategy or a root-cause of social conflict? Can separatist aspirations be assuaged through federalism?

This session focuses on the issue of ethnic separatism in all its various aspects. In particular, its aim is to gather perspectives derived from common anthropological premises but leading to conclusions different enough to constitute a comparative framework of analysis. Presenters will address separatism as the outcome of a complex dynamic process involving the different dimensions of ethnicity at group and individual levels.

COLVARD, Jeffrey Thomas (SUNY, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA)
THE QUEBECOIS SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN THE SAGUENAY REGION OF QUEBEC.

DASCALOPOULOS, Sofia, and VERNICOS, Nicolas (University of the Aegean, GR-81100, Mytilene, GREECE.)
REPRODUCTION AND DYNAMICS OF ETHNICITIY THROUGH HUMAN USE SYSTEMS.

KOMNENICH, Pauline, and EDDY, Ryan (Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA)
MONTENEGRINS IN YUGOSLAVIA: SERBS OR ETHNICALLY UNDECIDED?

An additional presentation was also given in this session by: A. POSERN-ZIELINSKI.

JASIEWICZ, Zbigniew (Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-809 Poznan, Poland)
ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION AND ETHNIC ORIGIN: THE POLES IN THE TERRITORY OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.

USMANNOVA, Zoulaikho (Khujand State University, Leninabad, Tajikistan)
ETHNICITY AND INTERETHNIC CONFLICT IN TAJIKISTAN.

PUCHKOV, Pavel Ivanovich (Institute of Ethnology & Anthropology, Moscow 117334, RUSSIA)
RELIGIOUS FACTORS IN ETHNIC CONFLICT IN THE REPUBLICS OF THE FORMER USSR.

SUPEK, Olga (University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75799, USA)
ETHNIC RELATIONS IN THE BALKANS.