ABSTRACT
The cohesion and survival of political systems have been central concerns of rulers, citizens, and political analysts throughout history. These concerns have assumed a special and very practical urgency in societies composed of highly diverse and conflicting cultural groups, where centrifugal pressures constantly test the merits of political structures, policies, and leaders. In such divided or "segmented" societies, the difficulties of ensuring the regime's continued existence often comprise a good deal of the political process.
