Written by some of the most distinguished scholars in the field of ethnic relations, this volume examines the role of ethnicity in modern day society and the impact of government policy on ethnic relations. International in scope, the essays look at a number of different but interrelated issues--aging, identity, minority groups, and others--examining each from a multidisciplinary perspective. Coverage ranges from the problems of Asian Americans to integration issues in Israel and the relationship between ethnic diversity and patterns of retirement. The contributions include both theoretical and empirical works.

The first section of the study presents the primary issues and central concepts involved in the study of multiculturalism in modern day societies. Specific chapters address such issues as the vesting of ethnic interests in state institutions, state policies toward subordinate ethnics, and government efforts to address multiculturalism. Particularly valuable is a retrospective analysis of Canada's "Bilingual and Bicultural Report." The next section contains detailed case studies which identify specific ethnic groups and analyze their current societal roles. In the final chapters, the contributors present two projections of what ethnic relations will be like in the twenty-first century as North America becomes more multi-ethnic and multilingual. Taken together, the essays offer an illuminating overview of the nature of multiculturalism in widely diverse societies.