'The literature of ethnic conflict has exploded since the early 1990s, as a result of the end of the Cold War and the outbreak of large-scale ethnic conflicts in Yugoslavia, Somalia, and elsewhere. Although this literature has contributed to an increased empirical knowledge - and although there has been several innovative theoretical and synthetical contributions as well - a more detailed understanding of semi-general mechanisms involved in processes of ethnic conflict is still warranted. Of particular importance is the question how the micro and macro levels are linked. Today the social psychological literature on stereotyping and prejudice, and group behavior more generally, is largely detached from social science approaches for understanding large-scale ethnic conflicts. Can something be gained from connecting them? Or are there better ways to link micro and macro? Here mobilization (e.g., is there anything specific in the ethnic aspect that facilitate mobilization?) and diffusion and escalation would be key concepts. The papers should be based on theory-driven empirical research or be pure theoretical in a way that points out new directions for further empirical research. Empirically, they could discuss anything from large-scale ethnic conflicts to more mundane conflicts between ethnic neighborhoods in urban areas, to mobilization of ethnic parties and social movements. If you wish to present a paper in the session "New Directions in Theory-driven Research on Ethnic Conflict", send an abstract of no more than one page to Jens Rydgren: jens.rydgren@sociology.su.se.