The Gujarat riots of 2002: primordialism or democratic politics?

Ethnic conflict is often portrayed as 'inevitable', as emanating from primordial feelings and 'ancient hatred'. But this essay argues that politico-cultural and politico-religious manipulation builds the 'imagined communities' that become labeled 'primordial'. It argues that ethnic conflict is more often than not an unfortunate but deliberate by-product of democratic politics. Through a thorough study of the Gujarat pogrom of 2002, the essay analyses and describes the process by which 'ancient hatreds' are moulded and how the healing touch of democratic institutions, such as elections and independent judiciaries, can resolve 'primordial' conflicts bred by politics - democratic or other.