How is Ethnic Peace Possible? Explaining Macedonia’s Peaceful Decade.

For ten years (1991-2001) Macedonia avoided the kind of interethnic strife that overwhelmed other former Yugoslav republics. How was this possible? Macedonia has many of the same cleavage and political patterns of Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia-Kosovo, such as nationalist politicians, interethnic animosities, linguistic and religious differences, an impoverished economy, and a weak, nascent state. Theories of ethnic peace are few and far between; the theories that are available fail to provide an adequate explanation of Macedonia’s trajectory. Therefore, a new theory of ethnic peace is articulated that focuses on the role of elites and interethnic party coalitions. Increased confidence in the theory is gained by its extension to cases such as South Africa, Trinidad, and Bosnia’s failed transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]