The authors state at the beginning of this provocative new book that one of the most distinctive features of the American persona is a preoccupation and underlying concern in the United States with what is or is not American.' How far can an ethnic group in the United States go to maintain its identity before it trespasses into what is perceived as un-American terrain? This is the underlying theme of Lambert and Taylor's community based investigation which studies the attitudes of Americans toward ethnic diversity and intergroup relations. Directed toward social psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, and ethnic scholars, this study deals with the peculiar U.S. dichotomy of cultural diversity and assimilation.

The research is conducted in a metropolitan area among working class adults; some are established mainstream citizens, others are newcomers, but all experience ethnic and racial diversity as a daily fact of life. The authors examine the perspectives of mainstream White Americans and Black Americans. They interview ethnic immigrant groups--Polish, Arab, Albanian, Mexican, and Puerto Rican Americans--in two urban settings and offer insight to the reality as well as the exciting possibilities of multiculturalism. Students and scholars of all the social sciences will find "Coping with Cultural and Racial Diversity in Urban America" as a source of stimulating ideas.

As the world faces an array of increasingly pervasive and dangerous social conflicts--race riots, ethnic cleansing, the threat of terrorism, labor disputes, and violence against women, children, and the elderly, to name a few--the study of how groups relate has taken on a role of vital importance to our society. In this thoroughly updated and expanded second edition, major international theoretical orientations to intergroup relations are outlined and critiqued, with particular attention given to exciting new developments in the field. Changes in approach to such enduring social issues as discrimination are discussed, and new sections focus on emerging topics including affirmative action, tokenism, and multiculturalism.

There are groups in society that experience profound social problems. Others betray a growing social malaise. Massive academic underachievement, family dysfunction, substance misuse, violence, and delinquent behavior are some of the major crises afflicting groups in the United States and Canada, including Aboriginal people, African Americans, and certain Hispanic groups. Taylor adds to this list the escalating number of so-called "street kids" roaming inner-city streets. To a lesser but no less frightening extent, he includes what has traditionally symbolized society's most privileged group-young white men. He asserts that while these are not the only groups who stand out as noticeably disadvantaged, they are among the most visible and, due to his research and activities, allow him to test his arguments and offer his proposals for change. Drawing upon his research experience in Canada, the United States, South Africa, and Indonesia, Taylor examines the impact of assimilation and the policies of cultural diversity and multiculturalism on these groups. He offers surprising insights into the causes of group malaise and individual failure, and his conclusions are bound to be of significant interest to scholars, students, and researchers involved with intergroup dynamics and cultural diversity.

There are groups in society that experience profound social problems, and there are others that show signs of a growing social malaise. The problems include massive academic underachievement, family dysfunction, substance misuse, violence, and delinquent behavior. In the United States and Canada, this highly unflattering profile applies to Aboriginal people, African Americans, and certain Hispanic groups. To this list, Taylor adds the ever-growing number of so-called "street kids" that roam inner-city streets, and, finally, to a lesser, but no less frightening extent, he adds what have traditionally symbolized society's most privileged group--young, white men. As Taylor points out these are not the only groups who stand out as noticeably disadvantaged, but they are among the most visible, and due to his research and activities, groups that allow him to test his arguments and offer his proposals for change. Drawing upon his research experience in Canada, the United States, South Africa, and Indonesia, Taylor examines the impact of assimilation, and policies of cultural diverstiy and multiculturalism on these groups. He offers surprising insights into the causes of group malaise and individual failure, and his conclusions are bound to be of significant interest to scholars, students, and researchers involved with intergroup dynamics and cultural diversity.

As the world faces an array of increasingly pervasive and dangerous social conflicts--race riots, ethnic cleansing, the threat of terrorism, labor disputes, and violence against women, children, and the elderly, to name a few--the study of how groups relate has taken on a role of vital importance to our society. In this thoroughly updated and expanded second edition, major international theoretical orientations to intergroup relations are outlined and critiqued, with particular attention given to exciting new developments in the field. Changes in approach to such enduring social issues as discrimination are discussed, and new sections focus on emerging topics including affirmative action, tokenism, and multiculturalism.