Why have settler societies, such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand moved to the forefront of multi-cultural change? This question is addressed in this comparative study. David Pearson explores the linked processes of aboriginal dispossession, settler state formation and international migration, and argues these historical foundations are still closely related to recent trends in ethnic politics. His surveys include discussions of multiculturalism, national identity, sovereignty, globalization, and citizenship.

Why have settler societies moved from a traditional position of ethnic insularity to being at the forefront of multicultural change? This question is addressed through comparative study of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, set against the USA and UK experience. “The Politics of Ethnicity in Settler Societies” explores the linked processes of aboriginal dispossession, settler state formation and international migration, and argues these historical foundations are still closely related to recent trends in ethnic politics. Contemporary topics surveyed include, multiculturalism, national identity, sovereignty, globalization, and citizenship.

Review
'...a critical and theoretically sophisticated book that deserves to be widely read.' - Choice

DAVID PEARSON is a Reader in Sociology at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand. He has published widely on comparative ethnic politics. His previous books include Race, Class and Political Acitivism and A Dream Deferred: The Origins of Racism in New Zealand.