This project focuses on the historical role of law in the formation of peoples' political and social identities (e.g., citizens of a given nation-state; members of an ethnic group) in a multi-ethnic society, particularly Sri Lanka. It posits that such identities cannot be taken for granted. Rather, they are constructed in the course of a historical process and in that process, law and legal systems play a part. Also, the project focuses on how law, as a crucial force in shaping identities, influences ethnic conflict in this multi-ethnic state. Drawing on archival records related to customary law and the complexity of legal systems experienced by the people of Sri Lanka, the study provides a unique historical perspective of the combination of local and transnational forces triggering ethnic conflict in this nation-state. Further, this historical analysis provides the basis for introducing a general theoretical perspective for advancing understanding ethnic conflict, focusing on the indirect role played by changing legal orders. Finally, the study shows that the influence of global sociolegal phenomena on nation building has historical antecedents and therefore, is not unique to contemporary events in Eastern Europe and elsewhere.
