This volume assembles some leading scholars from eight countries and four disciplines to debate multiculturalism in theory and practice. The authors show a resistance to either endorse or reject multiculturalism, but a preference for analysing the concrete historical and geographical contexts of the multicultural experience across varying countires.

INTRODUCTION: MULTICULTURAL QUESTIONS ; 2. Is Universalism Ethnocentric? ; 3. Nous et les Autres? 'We' and the 'Others'? ; 4. Cultural Pluralism and Partial Citizenship ; 5. The Paradox of Multicultural Vulnerability: Identity Groups, the State, and Individual Rights ; 6. An Update from the Multiculturalism Wars: Comments on Shachar and Spinner-Halev ; 7. Liberal Justifications for Ethnic Group Rights ; 8. Against Collective Rights ; 9. Multiculturalism and American Exceptionalism ; 10. Minorities and Immigrant Incorporation in France: The State and The Dynamics of Multiculturalism ; 11. 'Good to Think': The American Reference in French Discourse of Immigration and Ethnicity ; 12. How can we be European? Multicultural Questions in Transatlantic Perspective

`there is much in the way of original work here that adds to and develops some of the key debates surrounding multiculturalism. In particular, a new, context sensitive, approach to evaluating multicultural claims is developed and presented as one possible way to reassure those liberals who remain uneasy about multiculturalism ... a stimulating and thought provoking collection of articles.' Rose Gann, Democratization, Vol.8, 2001 `covers a wider-than-usual range of philosophical and policy questions about multiculturalism, ethnicity, and immigration' Jacob T Levy, Political Studies, Vol.49, No.1 `a well-structured and well-developed volume ... The editors introduce the book with intellectual refinement.' Soledad Garcia, Int. Affairs, Vol.77, No.1, Jan 01. `opening chapter has the strong merit not only of providing an excellent guide to the complex policy and philosophical questions discussed in the book, but also of offering in itself an engaging and clarifying debate.' Soledad Garcia, Int. Affairs, Vol.77, No.1, Jan 01. `valuable for academics as well as for policy-makers who want to be well informed about the state of the debate.' Soledad Garcia, Int. Affairs, Vol.77, No.1, Jan 01. `this is certainly a book well worth reading.' Soledad Garcia, Int. Affairs, Vol.77, No.1, Jan 01.

Leading international authors from a range of disciplines Wide-ranging discussion of a key contemporary issue Comparative examination of the experience of very different nation states A new and important contribution to a rarely debated topic.

Christian Joppke is Associate Professor in the Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute, Florence. Steven Lukes is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy, University of Siena, Italy

Leading international authors from a range of disciplines Wide-ranging discussion of a key contemporary issue Comparative examination of the experience of very different nation states A new and important contribution to a rarely debated topic.