Journal on Policy and Complex Systems
pendent variables ): Kurdish populated areas , the control of a central government , distance from the center of the Kurdish movement , and religion .
Literature Review
In this literature review , there are
four primary schools of thought studying ethnic conflict factors .
The first group of scholars have claimed that being a member of an ethnic minority causes ethnic conflict . Members of an ethnic minority group might take political action to oppose the majority and to improve their status and interests ( Yusoff & Sarjoon ). It is important to differentiate between being a member of an ethnic minority and being that ethnicity . ( Eriksen , 2002 ) contended that ethnicity is not a pivotal source of ethnic conflict , but that conflict occurs when an ethnicity becomes a minority ( Yusoff & Sarjoon ). Thus , ethnicity , such as white people in colonial Africa and Asia who are not facing discrimination , are not considered an ethnic minority ( Osaghae , 1998 ).
The second group of scholars have asserted that ethnic conflict happens due to the globalization . Because globalization increases the awareness of people and different cultures , people learn about different cultures while communicating and interacting with other people ; this causes a clash of civilizations . ( Fox , 2002 ) and ( Russett , Oneal , & Cox , 2000 ) found no statistically significant relationships between ethnic conflict and cultural difference . This debate has divided scholars into two groups ; I agree with the former and believe that globalization raises sub-nation awareness .
The third group of scholars believed that religion played a crucial role in the ethnic conflict . ( Arjomand , 1993 ) argued that religion is an essential factor of modern social and political phenomena ( cited in ( Eisenstadt , 1993 ). Indeed , ( Fox , 2004 ) showed how religion could impact ethnic violence . Fox ( 2004a ) also provided us with the knowledge of how religious grievances and discrimination influence ethnic conflict because religion is an integral part of an ethnic group . ( Rummel , 1997 ) asserted that when the political power is dependent on one social group , such as religion , then ethnic violence is more probable .
The fourth group asserts that ethnic conflict has a direct relationship to the economic situation of a state . In other words , this group believes ethnic conflict happens when a group of people feels that they are marginalized from accessing economic and natural resources ( Humphreys , 2005 ). Thus , economic inequality causes conflict . ( Davies , 1962 ) also emphasized the role of economic inequality and how it led to ethnic violence . However , studies by scholars such as ( Besançon , 2005 ) and ( Nagel , 1974 ) have provided us with the insight that there is not always a link between economic deprivation and violence and that there are poor states that also experience ethnic violence .
So far , I have mostly discussed the factors that facilitate ethnic violence . However , government and policymakers often try to prohibit , regu-
26