JOURNAL ARTICLE

"Ethnic Cleansing": An Analysis of Conceptual and Empirical Ambiguity.

  • Published In: Political Science Quarterly (Oxford University Press / USA), 2023, v. 138, n. 4. P. 469 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Garrity, Meghan M 3 of 3

Abstract

The article critically examines the concept of ethnic cleansing, highlighting five key areas of conceptual confusion that hinder its clarity and usefulness in social science research. These include disagreements over its core meaning, its characterization as either a practice or policy, overlaps with related concepts, the range of cases it encompasses, and inconsistent subtype classifications. To address these issues, the author proposes replacing the broad term "ethnic cleansing" with four more precise categories based on perpetrator intent: massacre (to annihilate), mass expulsion (to remove), coercive assimilation (to eliminate a unique cultural identity), and control (to subjugate). This approach aims to reduce ambiguity, enhance theoretical clarity, and foster more effective comparative analysis and policy development.

Additional Information

  • Source:Political Science Quarterly (Oxford University Press / USA). 2023/12, Vol. 138, Issue 4, p469
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:0032-3195
  • DOI:10.1093/psquar/qqad082
  • Accession Number:174880625
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Political Science Quarterly (Oxford University Press / USA) is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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