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4. Ethnic Identity and Minority Protection: Designation, Discrimination, and Brutalization

Ethnic Identity and Minority Protection: Designation, Discrimination, and Brutalization

Call no.

: 323.11/SIM

Author

: Thomas W. Simon

Contributor

: Hafizi Bin Japar

Summary

In Ethnic Identity and Minority Protection, Thomas W. Simon presents a new way to understand ethnic conflict. Instead of focusing mainly on defining group identity or minority status, he shifts attention to group harms the injustices and discrimination groups actually experience. Simon argues that solving ethnic conflicts should rely less on political arrangements like proportional representation and more on legal and adjudicative solutions, such as human-rights treaty bodies. His "injustice approach" helps explain cases like Kosovo's claim for remedial secession and clarifies competing entitlement claims among Malays in different countries. Ultimately, the book aims to prevent discrimination from escalating into violence, advocating for reasoned legal responses over hatred and brutalization.