by Jacob Dut Chol Riak

Abstract:

Ethnic politics and national identities remained contentious debate in political science and particularly, in comparative politics. While this study has systematically reviewed ethnic politics and national identities in selected African countries of DR Congo, Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda as well as discussing sectarian politics and violence in the Middle East countries, the study is timely given the political transformation of the world today. The study argues that ethnic politics and national identities are shaped by elites in given countries. Political elites will mobilize their constituents and subjects for violence conflicts and hateful national identities crusades while corrupting the country resources. If this is not handled well on time, it can spiral to genocide and ethnic cleansing destroying the states. A great example is the Rwanda genocide. The study deploys case studies, process tracing and comparative method to scholarly argue ethnic politics and national identities, their taxonomies, political salience of divisions, political competition & ethnic mobilization, the economy of ethnicity, corruption & political market place, ethnic politics & cleavages of Middle East countries, DR Congo, Burundi & Kenya and Rwanda genocide. To remedy extreme ethnic politics and violence national identities, accommodation of deep ethnic differences and national identities must be done expeditiously. This accommodation should embrace accountability and rule of law to those elites who triggered violence ethnic politics and sectarianism. The accommodation should include establishing regional autonomies through federalism and above all allowing co-identities alongside national identities. The study concludes that the states should forge national consensus for peace, development and prosperity for their people to eschew violence ethnic politics, sectarianism and hateful national identities.

Keywords: ethnicity, politics, identities, conflicts, corruption, cleavages, ethnic mobilization, accommodation, accountability, coidentities.

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