Ethnic realignments: A comparative study of government influences on identity

In this study, I seek to demonstrate that there is a relationship between government policies and individual choices regarding ethnic identification. I contend that people, while subject to a number of constraints, will tend towards reshaping their ethnic affiliation so that it maximizes their access to government benefits.; In an effort to substantiate this claim, I test three hypotheses regarding the relationship between government policies and ethnic affiliation choices. These hypotheses are: (1) ethnically based preferential government policies act as an incentive for people to identify with the favored groups; (2) changes in ethnic identity are more likely in regions with greater levels of economic development and ethnic integration; (3) changes in ethnic identity are more likely when government preferences benefit non-dominant ethnic groups.; The five states I select as cases to test my hypotheses each currently employ ethnically based preferential policies. I categorize these states on the basis of whether their government policies favor non-dominant or dominant groups. I discuss Australia and the People's Republic of China as states with preferences for non-dominant groups; I consider Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India as countries that have preferences restricted to dominant groups.; On the basis of these country studies, I conclude that there are particular circumstances that make engaging in the strategy of ethnic identity change in response to ethnically based government policies either more or less likely. The most permissive environments for this tactic are situations in which preferences favor non-dominant groups and members of the dominant ethnicities are both highly educated and urbanized. The least permissive environments for ethnic identity change are instances where preferences favor dominant groups and members of the non-dominant collectivities are neither educated nor urbanized. In this second scenario, violence and movements in favor of separatism by those enduring discrimination are likely to be the norm.