The events of recent years have demonstrated beyond doubt not only that ethnic pluralism presents major problems for the management of political systems, but that it is also a major cause of their failure and disintegration. This timely and topical book discusses the general issue of ethnic pluralism and considers a range of types of multi-ethnic society within a common analytical framework. It then examines the responses of governments to the problems of ethnic diversity and assesses the effects of ethnic conflict on the development and viability of states.

The events of recent years have demonstrated beyond doubt not only that ethnic pluralism presents major problems for the management of political systems, but that it is also a major cause of their failure and disintegration. This timely and topical book discusses the general issue of ethnic pluralism and considers a range of types of multi-ethnic society within a common analytical framework. It then examines the responses of governments to the problems of ethnic diversity and assesses the effects of ethnic conflict on the development and viability of states.

This eclectic mix of poetry covers a wide variety of topics from poet Don McIver. Serious issues like religion, personal tragedy, hypocrisy, unsuccessful careers, failed relationships, and homelessness mix with the not-so-serious topics of golf, cars, Star Wars, and macaroni to contribute to McIver's quest for self-discovery. The Noisy Pen clearly shows why McIver was voted as runner-up for the 'Best Spoken Word Artist in 1999 by readers of The Alibi and was chosen as one of the '40 under 40 by The New Mexico Business Weekly. 'McIver's work works. When you have a leak you call a plumber, when you need a poem with no pretension, that rolls up its sleeves and gets the job done you call McIver. He's dependable, he shows up, he's not afraid to get his hands dirty. His poems make you laugh and make you understand the word dedication. Poetry is his job.-Gary Mex Glazner, author of Ears on Fire: Snapshot Essays in a World of Poets and How to Make a Living as a Poet. 'Don builds us his world, which is the mission of a poet, missing nothing in the detail, to pronounce forward in the turn of his words, the tune of his own voice, a world for us to inhabit & share. McIver's joy is articulat

"A Bigger Boat" chronicles the Albuquerque Slam Poetry scene's growth and success at the 2005 National Poetry Slam competition, which it hosted and won. This collection of poems and personal memories explores Slam from the voices of the poets who began developing the Albuquerque scene in 1990 to poets who witnessed and celebrated the 2005 hometown victory.

Despite Slam's big city origins and arguments that smaller urban areas could not garner enough community interest to host national events, the Albuquerque event proved skeptics wrong. The swell of excitement so exceeded expectations that Danny Solis urged fellow organizers, "We need a bigger boat!"

The editors of "A Bigger Boat" gathered the works of well-known local and national poets to provide a window into the world of competitive poetry, where verse meets performance.

A CD with performances by many of the poets recorded at Albuquerque poetry slam events is included.