"Today, the cohesion of multi-ethnic societies is at risk across the globe. African countries have been facing this challenge in the sixty years since independence, They continue to do so. Historical inequalities and social division undermine cohesion and sow seeds of instability. Can Africa hope to build a future where ethnic and other groups can live at peace with each other? This book rests on the assumption that, with difficulty, they can. It draws together historians, economists and political scientists, each an authority on Africa, to look back at the continent's divided histories, to understand where Africans stand now, and to reflect on how they might now work towards a more trusting society. We bring conceptual clarity to bear on the often fuzzy processes and contexts. Our case studies, statistical expositions, theoretical reflections, and conceptual definitions apply beyond Africa to more developed countries, including in Europe and North America"--Provided by publisher.