Identity conflict, ethnocentrism and social cohesion

This paper uses a novel dataset on ethnic warfare to shed light on how conflict affects social identification and cohesion. A large body of anecdotal studies suggests that ethnic identities become more salient at times of conflict. Using data from thirty-six African countries, I provide econometric evidence to this notion. The relationship between ethnic conflict and various measures of social cohesion is also examined, revealing a positive link between the two. The finding is understood as a result of the ethnocentric dynamics generated by conflict: as warfare strengthens ethnic identification, prosocial behaviour increases, albeit primarily towards co-ethnics. This parochial interpretation is strengthened by the use of remote violence and the conditionality of conflict-induced prosocial behaviour on low levels of ethnic fractionalisation. • It develops novel data on ethnic conflict across 36 African countries over a 10-year period going from March 2005 to September 2015. • It provides cross-country quantitative support to the idea that conflict radicalizes ethnic identities. • It provides evidence on the mechanisms linking conflict to stronger prosociality. • It discusses how conflict exposure can travel across space.