Knowra Ethnic federalism Ethnic federalism Ethnic federalism organizes a state into subnational units associated with recognized ethnic communities, granting them some degree of self-government. Its distinctive aim is to accommodate diversity through territorially based autonomy.
Federalism : A system of government that constitutionally divides authority between a national government and subnational units. Ethnic federalism is one form of federalism, with territorial units tied to ethnic communities.
Ethiopia : A country in the Horn of Africa whose constitution established a federation of regions largely organized around ethnic communities. Ethiopia is the best-known contemporary case of a constitutionally explicit ethnic federation.
Civic nationalism : A conception of nationhood based on shared citizenship and political principles rather than ancestry or ethnicity. It contrasts with systems that organize political membership and territory around ethnic communities.
Ethnic conflict : Political, social, or armed conflict in which ethnic identity shapes group divisions and claims. Ethnic federalism is often intended to reduce conflict, but its effects depend on institutions and political conditions.
Ethnic fractionalization : A measure of the probability that two randomly selected people in a population belong to different ethnic groups. The number and distribution of groups affect whether ethnic regions can be drawn without creating new minorities.
Constitutional design : The arrangement of institutions, powers, and rules established by a constitution. Constitutional rules determine which powers ethnic regions can exercise and how disputes are settled.
Constitution of Ethiopia : The 1995 constitution that established Ethiopia's federal structure and recognized a right of secession for nations, nationalities, and peoples. Its provisions define regional self-government and make the right to secede unusually explicit.
Consociationalism : A power-sharing model that gives representatives of major social groups a role in governing a divided society. It accommodates ethnic divisions through shared central institutions rather than primarily through ethnic territories.
Ethnic nationalism : A form of nationalism that defines the nation through shared ancestry, culture, language, or ethnic identity. Ethnic regions can strengthen national identities that compete with a common state-wide identity.
Overlapping identities : The condition in which people hold multiple social identities that cross-cut rather than align with one another. Cross-cutting identities complicate attempts to map political authority onto a single ethnic affiliation.
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