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Ethnic conflict, such as in Bosnia, Rwanda, Palestine and Northern Ireland, is at the root of some of the world's most intractable and tragic events. The study of ethnic relations has taken on a new urgency in the aftermath of the Cold War.

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CHOICE Review

Ethnic and racial conflict is a global phenomenon--an issue that touches everyone. Taking special note of ethnicity, social problems, and human relationships on a global level, the author, an anthropologist, examines definitions and cross-cultural information concerning a range of 53 concepts--e.g., antisemitism, ethnic cleansing, panethnicity, pluralism, xenophobia. He also profiles 38 ethnic conflicts that are, in the author's perspective, representative of the world situation as of 1994. The profiles, however, exclude ethnic disputes in countries like Japan and the US. The US, the world's most ethnically diverse nation with immigrants from 185 countries and territories, lives on the cusp of ethnic and racial tensions. The work, in addition to the alphabetically arranged entries, contains an annotated directory of ethnic organizations throughout the world, an extensive bibliography, and a subject index. The book will be of interest and merit for college and public libraries in order to promote understanding of ethnic relations and multiculturalism. K. S. Kim; Queensborough Community College, CUNY

Booklist Review

Timely and authoritative information on a crucial world problem is found in this work, a volume in ABC-Clio's new series, Encyclopedias of the Human Experience. It covers two kinds of topics: definitions of terms pertinent to the study of ethnic relations (e.g., ethnocentrism, genocide, irredentism) and descriptive profiles of 38 contemporary ethnic conflicts. A specialist on global ethnicity and social relations, as well as vice president of Human Relations Area Files, Levinson recently edited the 10-volume Encyclopedia of World Cultures [RBB Jl 91]. The alphabetically arranged work under review covers Ethnic Cleansing and other expected topics, but also such lesser-known issues as internal colonialism and Third World colonialism (in the entry Colonialism). The entry Kurds is an example of the interweaving of statistics with background information on a conflict to present a clear portrait. The articles are succinct but lengthy enough (seven pages on Indigenous Rights) to convey a full understanding of the material and will be accessible to high-school students as well as adults. Cross-references are noted at the end of articles, and see references are sometimes provided, though use of the index is still necessary. For example, there is no see reference from Tutsi to Hutu and Tutsi, but Tutsi is listed in the index. Assistance in pronunciation would have been helpful at various entries. Information is current; for example, the April 1994 South African election and the June_ 1994 French presence in Rwanda are noted. Black-and-white photographs and tables illustrate and clarify the text. After each entry, bibliographic references, including both classic and current titles, direct the user to further sources. Following the entries is a 17-item annotated "Directory of International Organizations Concerned with Ethnic Relations," which includes such lesser-known groups as Cultural Survival. A bibliography of works cited and an accurate index complete the work. Medium-size to large public libraries, high-school libraries, and academic libraries will find Ethnic Relations: A Cross-Cultural Encyclopedia useful and fascinating reading. (Reviewed Apr. 15, 1995)