What are internal mass-level causes of ethnic conflict?

Internal mass-level causes of ethnic conflict, often referred to as "bad domestic problems," encompass structural and societal pressures that destabilize a state and heighten intergroup tensions. These factors include:1

• Economic Instability: Economic slowdowns, stagnation, or total collapse create competition and resentment among ethnic groups. Rapid transitions—such as moving from centrally planned to market economies—can trigger societal changes that existing political structures are ill-equipped to manage.2
• Discrimination: Systems that provide inequitable access to resources, land, or economic opportunities generate grievances that fuel conflict.2
• Societal Changes: Processes like urbanization and internal migration can disrupt established social orders. These shifts may raise expectations for political or economic gains that, when unmet, lead to widespread frustration.21
• Modernization: Rapid modernization is identified as a significant factor that can aggravate instability and create conditions conducive to conflict.1

These mass-level factors often create the environment in which ethnic identities are mobilized, particularly when political systems fail to offer peaceful avenues for expressing grievances or addressing inequality.34