Explores the history of ethnic conflict in the world to assess the future role of ethnicity in international politics, arguing that "ethnic cleansing" in the post-Cold war world can be avoided if ...ethnic pride is given legitimacy, presented in 5 Chpts with a Foreword by Adam Roberts & an Introduction -- which explores the criteria that must be present in the organization of a nation or a state, noting the importance of ethnic identity & political belief in the changing structure of governments. (1) Ethnicity as a Discipline -- examines the role of ethnicity in intellectual discourse, including Enlightenment & Marxist political theories, & explores the role of ethnicity in twentieth-century politics, especially with regard to the USSR. (2) On the "Self-Determination of Peoples" -- investigates the implications of the UN Charter recognizing the right of self-determination for ethnic groups, exploring global reactions when ethnic violence occurs in the name of self-determination (eg, the Kurds in Iraq). (3) National Proletarian Internationalism -- reviews Soviet attempts to quell desires for self-determination in their efforts to build an international class of workers, an industrial proletariat, & explores how this contributed to the downfall of the USSR. (4) Before the Fall -- describes how European nations, in the aftermath of WWI, redrew the map of the Middle East without considering the impact of mixing various ethnicities (eg, in Iraq). (5) Order in an Age of Chaos -- explores the role that ethnicity & efforts at self-determination will play in post-Cold war political dynamics, eg, the human rights implications of UN policies that make it illegal to prevent self-determination, but also make it illegal to aid secessionist or insurgent movements. References are encompassed in Chpt Notes. R. Logsdon
