Journal article
The Issue Correlates of War (ICOW) Identity Claims Dataset, 1946-2021
Journal of peace research, Vol.62(4), pp.1252-1261
07/2025
DOI: 10.1177/00223433241268838
Abstract
This article introduces the Issue Correlates of War Identity Claims Dataset. An identity claim occurs when two states diplomatically contest the treatment of an ethnic group that both states share. A state that advances such a claim (i.e. the challenger) demands that the other state (i.e. the target) either: (i) change its domestic treatment of the group, (ii) grant the group independence, or (iii) allow the group to reunite with the challenger state (i.e. irredentism). Our research locates all known instances of identity claims throughout the world from 1946 to 2021 ( n = 111; 45 ongoing as of 31 December 2021). We first highlight the differences between these data and what appears in various existing datasets. We then elaborate on our data generating and coding processes, before descriptively presenting some of the dataset’s noteworthy characteristics (e.g. frequency over time and across regions; the most common challengers, targets, and ethnic groups involved; and claim militarization rates). Finally, we conclude with a discussion about promising ways to use the data in future research.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Issue Correlates of War (ICOW) Identity Claims Dataset, 1946-2021
- Creators
- Paul R Hensel - University of North TexasSara McLaughlin Mitchell - University of IowaAndrew P Owsiak - Office of International AffairsKrista E Wiegand - University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of peace research, Vol.62(4), pp.1252-1261
- DOI
- 10.1177/00223433241268838
- ISSN
- 0022-3433
- eISSN
- 1460-3578
- Publisher
- SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
- Grant note
- United States Department of Defense's Minerva Research Initiative
This project received support from the United States Department of Defense's Minerva Research Initiative.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/31/2024
- Date published
- 07/2025
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; Political Science; Law Faculty
- Record Identifier
- 9984746259802771
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