Modern state-building has often involved the incorporation of peripheral peoples who are ethnically distinct from the state’s dominant group. Some of these peripheral groups succumb by assimilating, while others contest the legitimacy of the state’s claim and violently resist integration. Others are able to reach some sort of modus vivendi by negotiating the extent of their autonomy and self-governance.

Why some groups follow one path and not another, however, seems not to have a very straightforward relationship with initial political, Continue reading →