Managing Ethnic Diversity

Reza Hasmath is Lecturer in Chinese Politics at the University of Oxford, UK and author of The Ethnic Penalty.

'With modern globalization, all societies are now ethnically diverse and increasingly so. As a consequence, all states are drawn, often reluctantly, into the management of diversity. However, we know relatively little in comparative terms about the social conditions that render multicultural policies either relatively successful or unmitigated disasters. This edited collection provides a valuable comparison between "reception societies" such as Canada and Australia and societies that once were relatively homogeneous - Austria, Britain, France, Germany and Italy.' Bryan S. Turner, The City University of New York, USA 'This book focuses on the structural challenges to managing ethnic diversity, while eschewing simplistic critiques of multiculturalism. The authors demonstrate that the challenges to managing diversity vary from country to country, according to philosophical tradition, polity, demographics and history. The authors offer reasoned and formative commentaries, and there is a global lens that assuages the usually insular analyses of multiculturalism.' Kevin Dunn, University of Western Sydney, Australia 'Managing Ethnic Diversity is a useful edited volume for students and scholars wanting a broad overview of ethnic diversity and its management in (predominantly) the Western world. The chapters provide snapshots of multiculturalism in its various lived forms and policy incarnations and together demonstrate that ethnic diversity and its management are context specific and have emerged from specific histories and philosophical and political traditions. While acknowledging the real problems encountered in ethnically diverse communities and issues with contemporary multicultural policies, overall the volume has a positive stance towards ethnic diversity with authors providing recommendations for the success of multiculturalism and its management in the future.' Asian Ethnicity 'By bringing together an international team of experts in migration and multiculturalism, Managing Ethnic Diversity: Meanings and Practices from an International Perspective, edited by Reza Hasmath, fosters a truly global dialogue. Whereas the focus of most comparative studies in the field is on North America, the Antipodes and Western Europe, this volume can claim credit not to lose sight of the fact that also Asian countries, such as China (Chapter Six) and Taiwan (Chapter Seven), are composed of ethnically diverse groups... the book as a whole is of great value for large-scale survey data researchers... In discussing the cultural and historical backgrounds of multicultural practices from ten different countries and in showing that and how multiculturalist practices and policies are embedded in more general political traditions, the volume provides important background information for researchers interested in cross-country research as well as for scholars in the field of political sociology.' Contemporary Sociology 'Managing Ethnic Diversity contributes to the ongoing debate about the outcomes of multiculturalism offering a comprehensive study, which incorporates insights from a wide range of traditional and 'newer' multi-ethnic societies around the world. The book provides a valuable collection of studies useful for decision-makers and researchers interested in ethnicity, identity and migration issues.' Journal of Identity and Migration Studies

• Managing Ethnic Diversity