Understanding ethnic conflict: a framework

Abstract

Within the last ten years the phrase ethnic conflict has become extremely common. I spent the majority of my time as a Special Forces Detachment Commander dealing with ethnic conflict situations in Northern Iraq, Turkey, and the Balkans. While in these places it became apparent to me that ethnic conflict is very complicated and that most Americans have a difficult time comprehending it My purpose in writing this thesis is to offer Special Forces soldiers or other US military personnel a framework for gaining a better understanding of the dynamics involved in ethnic conflict. This framework includes three preconditions and two advanced conditions which are tested against three case studies: Bosnia, Kosovo, and Kurdish/Turkish relations in Southeast Turkey. The framework offers an objective, non country-specific, way to sort through and make sense of the situation on the ground. After becoming familiar with this framework, it would be my hope that the individual will have the ability to function more effectively and efficiently, particularly when there is little time to become intimately familiar with the situation before arriving on the scene.