An Evaluation of "Does Economic Inequality Breed Political Conflict?" Studies

@article{citeulike:1378752, abstract = {Contradictory findings, that economic inequality may have a positive, negative, or no impact on political conflict, are a puzzle for conflict studies. Three approaches have been used to explain the inconsistent findings of the EI-PC (Economic Inequality-Political Conflict) nexus: statistical modeling, formal modeling, and theory building. Because analysts have tended to possess different research skills, these three approaches have been employed in isolation from one another. Singly, however, all three approaches have proved deficient and are unlikely to solve the EI-PC puzzle. The most fruitful approach is to combine the assumptions of the theory builders and the deductive approach of the formal modelers with the various empirical tests of the statistical modelers. Such an approach to the EI-PC puzzle produces a crucial test of the Deprived Actor and Rational Actor theories of conflict. The approach is also our best hope for solving the other long-standing puzzles in conflict studies.}, author = {Lichbach, Mark I.}, citeulike-article-id = {1378752}, journal = {World Politics}, keywords = {conflict, inequality}, number = {4}, pages = {431--470}, posted-at = {2007-06-11 15:18:47}, priority = {2}, title = {An Evaluation of \"Does Economic Inequality Breed Political Conflict?\" Studies}, url = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/2010526}, volume = {41}, year = {1989} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:1378752 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1378752 N2 - Contradictory findings, that economic inequality may have a positive, negative, or no impact on political conflict, are a puzzle for conflict studies. Three approaches have been used to explain the inconsistent findings of the EI-PC (Economic Inequality-Political Conflict) nexus: statistical modeling, formal modeling, and theory building. Because analysts have tended to possess different research skills, these three approaches have been employed in isolation from one another. Singly, however, all three approaches have proved deficient and are unlikely to solve the EI-PC puzzle. The most fruitful approach is to combine the assumptions of the theory builders and the deductive approach of the formal modelers with the various empirical tests of the statistical modelers. Such an approach to the EI-PC puzzle produces a crucial test of the Deprived Actor and Rational Actor theories of conflict. The approach is also our best hope for solving the other long-standing puzzles in conflict studies. IS - 4 JF - World Politics EP - 470 TI - An Evaluation of "Does Economic Inequality Breed Political Conflict?" Studies VL - 41 SP - 431 KW - conflict KW - inequality AU - Lichbach, Mark PY - 1989/// UR - http://www.jstor.org/stable/2010526 ER -