THE ROLE OF A MINORITY REFERENCE STATE IN ETHNIC-RELATIONS

This article presents a model of the triangular relationship between m inority, majority, and the minority's reference state which is a featu re of many ethnic relations. The presence of a reference state can ove rcome a potential commitment problem between minority and majority if it is perceived to be both militarily strong and moderately irredentis t. Empirical material from Croatia, Transylvania, Estonia and Crimea s uggests the plausibility of the model. Russia's role as a reference st ate is particularly interesting.