Introduction

Abstract

Nationalism and ethnicity are central to the subject of politics, whether in the world of action or in the realm of study. Countless wars, revolts and conflicts have been the result of the passions which nation and ‘kith and kin’ have aroused in human beings. It has been estimated that more than ten million lives have been lost since 1945 alone as a result of ethnic violence (Horowitz, 1985, p. xi, quoting Isaacs, 1975, p. 3). That total has probably risen by another million since 1975, and may in fact be on the increase. Two thousand died in 1989 alone in ethnic violence in the Punjab, and as many in Sri Lanka. Deaths and injuries because of ethnic violence have also been common in Azerbaijan, Kashmir, Burma in Asia, and the Basque country and Northern Ireland in Europe, to name only a few examples. Nationalist passions are probably the strongest in the whole political spectrum, and are generally stronger today than those aroused by religion, class, individual or group interest.