Conclusion

Abstract

AbstractThe book concludes with a reminder that the Beslan school hostage taking realistically could have triggered a seemingly endless cycle of ethnically motivate bloodbaths. Defying expectations, victims of the hostage taking largely chose peaceful political activism over retaliatory ethnic violence. The chapter offers thoughts on the implications of the findings for stopping cycles of ethnic violence, increasing interest representation, and advancing research methods. To reduce violence, it is imperative to reduce prejudice, curb concern about anger, raise concern about pride in country, exercise caution about self-efficacy, and foster regular political engagement. To improve interest representation, it is imperative to stoke rather than quench anger, value justifiable political alienation, and nurture political efficacy and habits of political activism.