Journal Abstract

This article explores the paradoxical dynamics of minority complexes within majoritarian states, focusing on Sri Lanka’s Sinhala-majority state and Israel’s position as a Jewish-majority state in the Middle East. Despite their demographic or military dominance, both states exhibit profound insecurities vis-à-vis their respective minorities—Tamils in Sri Lanka and Palestinians in Israel/Palestine. These insecurities manifest as an entrenched unwillingness to share power, acknowledge historical grievances, or consider the creation of independent states for these minority populations. By examining historical trajectories, ethno-nationalist ideologies, and geopolitical contexts, this article interrogates the roots of such majoritarian anxieties. It argues that the fear of internal fragmentation and existential threats—amplified by narratives of victimhood and survival—drives these states to adopt exclusionary policies. In both cases, the majority's sense of being under siege fuels a zero-sum approach to sovereignty and identity, wherein accommodating minority aspirations is equated with national disintegration. This article seeks to understand how perceived vulnerability, rather than strength, underpins the logic of majoritarian dominance and offers a comparative framework to analyze the persistent resistance to pluralism and power-sharing in deeply divided societies.