|
|
ReportsGlobal Pattern Formation and Ethnic/Cultural Violence
We identify a process of global pattern formation that causes regions to differentiate by culture. Violence arises at boundaries between regions that are not sufficiently well defined. We model cultural differentiation as a separation of groups whose members prefer similar neighbors, with a characteristic group size at which violence occurs. Application of this model to the area of the former Yugoslavia and to India accurately predicts the locations of reported conflict. This model also points to imposed mixing or boundary clarification as mechanisms for promoting peace.
1 New England Complex Systems Institute, 24 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
2 Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. 3 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: yaneer{at}necsi.edu
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
E-Letters:Read all E-Letters
|
Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)
News | Science Journals | Careers | Blogs and Communities | Multimedia | Collections | Help | Site Map | RSS
Subscribe | Feedback | Privacy / Legal | About Us | Advertise With Us | Contact Us
© 2007 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All Rights Reserved.
AAAS is a partner of HINARI, AGORA, PatientInform, CrossRef, and COUNTER.
You have reached the bottom of the page. Back to top