Review (PDF) Ethnic Conflict And Civic Life: Hindus And Muslims In India
This work, updated for the paperback edition, examines how civic ties between Hindus and Muslims in different Indian cities serve to contain, or even prevent, ethnic violence. It should be of interest to South Asian scholars and policymakers as well as to those studying multiethnic societies in other areas of the world.
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Yale University Press; 2nd Revised ed. edition (February 8, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0300100132
ISBN-13: 978-0300100136
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.9 x 9.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #133,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #16 in Books > History > World > Religious > Hinduism #107 in Books > History > Asia > India #124 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Asia
I've worked and taught in the field of peacebuilding for 25 years and consider this book the single most important research that has been done in the field. Varshney breaks new ground in conducting indepth research into why some cities in India into fell into violence and some did not during times of high national tension.He presents clear and extremely useful findings about what is useful and what is not useful in resisting violence. Specifically, his research shows that creating structures that bring people together to work for a common cause or benefit(such as Hindu-Muslim traders cooperatives, joint community development committees, peace committees, etc.) has a marked effect in reducing violence.I present Varshney's findings in a variety of settings worldwide and find audiences always highly responsive. My students love the book and find Varshney's ideas so clear and insightful that the often refer back to him later.This book in my view is an example of scholarship at its best: well-designed, provocative, clear in its conclusions. On top of that is it unusually lucid in writing style. I consider it a "classic" - a book that will endure for many years and that deserves to be on the shelf of any serious student of ethnic or religious violence.You can read the first and last few chapters and get the real benefits of the book.Ron KraybillProfessor of Conflict TransformationEastern Mennonite University
Let me make it clear that I am neither a Hindu nor a Muslim, so am surprised when people call Varshney's research biased against Muslims, I am not sure how anyone could get that out of this book...if anyone for the sake of argument wanted to make a case for this book being biased there would be one for it being biased against Hindus!( which it is not either to be fair). But I guess if you are looking for Islamophobia you find it anywhere just as people promoting Islamophobia find reasons to be Islamophobic.. sad but true. Also this book is clearly in the genre of an optimistic search for ethnic peace..which makes it a tad bit 'innocent' but honestly that is the only reason I would read a book about ethnic conflict.
This very compelling book tells the story of Hindu-Muslim violence in India not by relying on a hunch, or ideological predisposition, but by drawing on hard data. Tightly written, the book will make you think about ethnic violence in a systematic and intelligent manner. The author's significant argument that civil society is implicated in preventing riots in certain Indian cities has important implications both at the personal as well as the political level. For it makes us ask ourselves, as citizens how does our participation or non participation in civic life impact Hindu-Muslim relations in our cities? Furthermore, how can the state and international agencies encourage and entrench the kind of civic behavior that diminishes the prospect of conflict turning into riots? Should be read by all concerned citizens.
Varshneys research is particulary impressive because of the concise research method that he upholds. I am pleased that he has studied both peaceful and violent cities--giving his research model a basis for comparison. I have purchased 20 copies of Ethnic Conflict and Civic life and have circulated the work among my friends. Varshney's work gives us hope for world peace. this is the work of utter genius. very impressive research. particulary interesting was his intricate methodology of janwars in conflict. I highly recomment this book.a beintot,julliette
Varshney's research is compelling and interesting. He offers refreshing insight and hope. His model will influence public policy and his writing will be cited by world leaders. I look forward to seeing his work implemented globally.a must have...
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