STATUS IN THE WORLD-SYSTEM AND ETHNIC MOBILIZATION

Many countries seem to be confronting challenges from ethnic movements . This study extends arguments from existing theories to consider an e xplanation of ethnic mobilization at the world system level. The analy sis uses structural equation models to compare data on ethnic mobiliza tion in 130 countries from 1965 to 1990. The authors examine hypothese s concerning the impact of peripheral status and integration into the world system on the magnitude of ethnic violence and nonviolence. Resu lts provide evidence that peripheral countries with more ties to inter national governmental organizations have significantly lower levels of ethnic violence than peripheral countries without these ties. Moreove r, peripheral countries with more memberships in international organiz ations experience a significantly higher magnitude of ethnic nonviolen t protest Finally, we present some speculative results regarding the i mpact of income inequality on the magnitude of ethnic violence.