Power Sharing and International Mediation in Ethnic Conflicts

Can power sharing prevent violent ethnic conflict? And if so, how can the international community best promote that outcome?In this concise volume, Timothy Sisk defines power sharing as practices and institutions that result in broad-based governing coalitions generally inclusive of all major ethnic groups. He identifies the principal approaches to power sharing, including autonomy, federations, and proportional electoral systems.In addition, Sisk highlights the problems with various power-sharing approaches and practices that have been raised by scholars and practitioners alike, and the instances where power-sharing experiments have succeeded and where they have failed. Finally, he offers some guidance to policymakers as they ponder power-sharing arrangements.

A useful survey of the burgeoning academic field of ethnic studies and the dynamics of ethnic conflicts. It offers practical advice regarding approaches which might or might not work in attenuating ethnic disputes. It is also realistic in seeking to apply various principles and techniques to the real world.--Herbert Okun, former U.S. ambassador