ABSTRACT
Ethnic and religious identities are often seen as drivers of conflict, and thus are important issues to consider within the broader international conflict management field. While ethnic civil wars are in decline, it is generally true that they are still more common than other types of civil conflicts. This chapter considers the causes of ethnic and religious conflicts and discusses the theories and practices that help in preventing ethnic conflicts from beginning or recurring and help manage and mitigate these conflicts when they are underway. The chapter includes cases studies on the Uighurs in China, as well as the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar to illustrate the theories and discussions of the chapter. The chapter further explores some of the key challenges in dealing with ethnic and religious conflicts and areas for optimism moving forward.
