This document discusses theories on the relationship between ethnicity and conflict. It provides evidence that pre-existing ethnic divisions do influence social conflict within countries. Specifically, it finds that two measures of ethnic division - polarization and fractionalization - jointly influence conflict, with polarization having a stronger influence when the conflict involves political power or religion, and fractionalization having a stronger influence when the conflict involves resources. The document analyzes the ubiquity of internal conflicts within countries and finds that over half involve ethnic or religious dimensions. It discusses both primordial and instrumental views of the role of ethnicity in conflicts.