Abstract: The effect of ethnic division on civil war and the role of political systems in preventing these conflicts are analyzed, using the importance of religious polarization and animist diversity to explain the incidence of ethnic civil war. Findings show that religious differences are a social cleavage more important than linguistic differences in the development of civil war, and being a consociational democracy significantly reduces the incidence of ethnic civil war.

Howard E. Aldrich and Roger Waldingr, “Ethnicity and Entrepreneurship,” Annual Review of Sociology, 16 (1990): 111-135
Abstract: Examines various approaches to explaining ethnic enterprise, using a framework based on three dimensions: an ethnic group's access to opportunities, the characteristics of a group, and emergent strategies. A common theme pervades research on ethnic business: Ethnic groups adapt to the resources made available by their environments, which vary substantially across societ- ies and over time. Four issues emerge as requiring greater attention: the reciprocal relation between ethnicity and entrepreneurship, more careful use of ethnic labels and categories in research, a need for more multigroup, comparative research, and more process-oriented research designs.

Bernard C. Rosen, "Race, Ethnicity, and the Achievement Syndrome," American Sociological Review 24, No. 1 (Feb., 1959), pp. 47-60

Abstract: The disparity between the vertical mobility rates of some racial and ethnic groups can, in part, be explained as a function of their dissimilar psychological and cultural orientations towards achievement. Three components of this orientation-achievement motivation, achieve- ment values, and educational-occupational aspirations-which have important consequences for social mobility in this country, are examined. Converging bodies of historical and ethno- graphic data indicate that differences between groups in motivation, values, and aspirations existed before their arrival in the Northeast, and had their origins in dissimilar socialization practices, traditions, and life-situations. Current attitudinal and personality data reveal that, for the most part, these differences still exist.

Joshua Correll, Bernadette Park, Charles M. Judd, and Bernd Wittenbrink, “The Police Officer’s Dilemma: Using Ethnicity to Disambiguate Potentially Threatening Individuals,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Vol. 83, No. 6 (2002): 1314–1329
Abstract: Using a simple videogame, the effect of ethnicity on shoot/don’t shoot decisions was examined. African American or White targets, holding guns or other objects, appeared in complex backgrounds. Participants were told to “shoot” armed targets and to “not shoot” unarmed targets. In Study 1, White participants made the correct decision to shoot an armed target more quickly if the target was African American than if he was White, but decided to “not shoot” an unarmed target more quickly if he was White. Study 2used a shorter time window, forcing this effect into error rates. Study 3 replicated Study 1’s effects and showed that the magnitude of bias varied with perceptions of the cultural stereotype and with levels of contact, but not with personal racial prejudice. Study 4 revealed equivalent levels of bias among both African American and White participants in a community sample. Implications and potential underlying mechanisms are discussed.

BBC Documentary: The History of Racism in 6 parts

The changing state of US ethnicity

last updated: September 8, 2016 please inform me of any broken links

last updated: September 8, 2016
please inform me of any broken links