ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to explore the nature of the relationship between democratisation and inter-communal relations in multi-ethnic societies. Critically assessing some of the arguments put forth on this issue, the author seeks to challenge the notion that democratisation in ethnically divided societies necessarily leads to violent inter-communal conflict. As will be shown, it is not so much the democratisation process that poses a threat to inter-ethnic peace; instead, in order to understand the emergence of inter-communal conflict we need to look at the previous, totalitarian regime as well, and the initial transition phase following the breakdown of that regime, along with the history of inter-ethnic relations in each particular case. Next, this chapter introduces John Burton’s theory of human needs and its application to conflict, which will then be developed further in Chapter 6. The tension between individual and collective rights, as well as the issue of ethnic politics, is also explored.
