Changing Perceptions of the 'Other': A Field Experiment

It has been noted that the vast majority of nation states today are no longer (if ever they were) ethnically homogenous (see for example, Kymlicka 1995). This is especially apparent in Israel which is a nation of immigrants and also has a large ethnic minority. To reduce intra-state violence and moderate internal tensions, the federal model of institutions has been advanced by many social scientists to cope with tensions in such divided societies. It is generally agreed by political scientists that there is no precise and universally accepted definition of federalism. However the federalist idea and concept clearly have found expression in the creation of political structures designed to ensure the co-existence of different and potentially conflicting political authorities within larger political entities.