Following recent events in Eastern Europe, questions surrounding European identity seem more pressing than ever. This volume explores, through a series of ethnographic case studies, the construction and experience of identities in Western Europe.

Identity complexes in Western Europe - social anthropological perspectives; ethnicity as revolutionary strategy - communist identity construction in Italy; who can tell the tale? texts and the problem of generational and social identity in a Tuscan rural commune; at play with identity in the Basque arena; good to be French? conflicts of identity in North Catalonia; becoming Celtic in Corsica; the marching seasons in Northern Ireland - an expression of politico-religious identity; Wales from within - conflicting interpretations of Welsh identity; Copeland - Cumbria's best kept secret; the construction of difference - anthropological approach to stereotypes.

'...it is well-written, the contributions are interesting and make a real contribution to the state of the art...all the papers are provocative in the best sense of the word...be sure to read it.'Bulletin of the Society for the Anthropology of Europe'...the issues it raises and the conclusions it presents are applicable to the core populations of the EC which are struggling with many of the same issues.'European Community Studies Association Newsletter