Ethnicity and Race: Making Identities in a Changing World

by Stephen E. Cornell, Douglas Hartmann

This cross-cultural and cross-national approach to ethnicity and race analyzes how race and ethnic identities are socially constructed, institutionalized and maintained. Throughout, the authors use contemporary examples from across the world, including extended case studies of ethnic/identity construction in the former Yugoslavia, South Africa and New Zealand. The authors demonstrate why ethnic and racial boundaries over the last 30 years and contrary to earlier, optimistic predictions have become stronger and more strident under the pressures of modernization, mass communication and secularization. The book concludes by discussing how the downward spiral of hate and separateness can be halted, and even reversed.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 1997

Reviews

[Shae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes I’m adding my class books

Helpful for my class material but once again, really tough

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book this semester as required by my Ethnicity and Nationalism course. This is a basic look at identities and the construction of those identities, how they're shaped and how it affects not only the group but the society and world around them with the ever-growing presence of globalization.

Race and ethnicity are, of course, the focal point. As a social construct (and therefore fake in any biological test), it briefly discussed how certain groups dealt with the change of their identities through migration and colonization and so forth--how new identities were assigned and then asserted.

I enjoyed this book. As an introductory text, it served it's purpose. I would have liked a bit more depth, but this is for an upper-level general ed class. I know it had me thinking, and I could tell how it began to shape the views of my fellow classmates. The most interesting part for me was learning that prominent early 20th century sociologists such as Robert Park predicted the end of the concepts of race and ethnicity as the world began to globalize and modernize, but this did not happen. Even with intermarriage and global migration, boundaries are still enforced. We don't melt, the authors assert, but our need for compartmentalization and an identity all our own (which by definition creates an "other," a "them"), serves to reinforce boundaries as well. Some have melted, but not enough. The question is whether these sociologists' predictions will simply take more time to materialize, or if they never will. I tend to think there is a strong argument for both answers.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was part of the essential recommended reading list for the Ethnicity and Race module of a course when I was a student. This review is based on Chapters 1-6 and not on the whole book.

The book covers the concepts of race and ethnicity starting of from a historical point of view progressing onto alternating views such as assimilationism and primordialism. The use of case studies from across the world including the US aid understanding and depth to these topics. Inevitably it does progress onto politics concerning politcal systems, labour markets and residential space.

Based on these chapters alone, I'd say the whole book is worth reading in it's entirety. Beneficiaries would be people looking to gain a very in depth understanding of race and ethnicity across many levels.

[Kayci Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite theoretical constructions of race and ethnicity. Based on constructionist viewpoints, the authors expertly theorize how race and ethnicity are formed, changed, and maintained throughout peace and conflict.

[Linda Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

race relations course, loved this book! yes, i actually read it not browsed

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a 3 for what I got out of it, but I think for those who haven't been exposed to the subject as much, for what it covers it's a 4 or 4.5.

[Ale]

Abarca