The literature on evolutionary theory tends to address questions ofethnicity from two perspectives: (1) macro, or long–term selection processes associated with basic human preferences for individual orgroup survival, ethnic identity or kinship affiliations; and (2)intermediate selection mechanisms associated with the fitness andadaptability of specific cultures, religions or belief systems indifferent regions of the world.Comparatively less time has been spentaddressing micro–evolutionary questions about the timing, escalationand duration of ethnic violence — that is, micro orshort–term selectionprocesses and fitness mechanisms that account for the escalation and/orduration of ethnic hatreds, violence or war at a particular time.