States that discriminate against ethnic groups face a daunting dilemma: the state demands military service but mistrusts certain ethnicities. Some militaries brutalize ethnic recruits; most deny them equal opportunity or rights. This thesis investigates how ethnic and military leaders influence politicians to determine the size and character of ethnic participation in the armed forces, by comparing the experiences of marginalized groups in the US, former Soviet Union, South Africa and Israel. The research found that multiethnic states amend their military manpower policy through a two-stage process. In the first stage, ethnic and military leaders independently decide whether to press for changes to existing policies, based on their capability status and whether there is legitimacy in advocating for change. The second stage of the theory builds upon the first by examining how ethnic, military and political leaders negotiate with one another to determine changes in military manpower policy. The case studies indicated that the nature and pace of ethnic integration are determined critically by the power differentials of the various actors, as well as their rational calculation of the costs and benefits incurred from pursuing integration. The research highlights the importance for all stakeholders to have a balanced stake in the evolution of military manpower policy, as this produces negotiating outcomes with net positive gains for all parties involved. Politicians that give both ethnic and military leaderships a fair role in the bargaining process can simultaneously enhance the effectiveness of the military as well as alleviate some of the tensions between the state and its marginalized ethnic groups.

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