Exploring race and ethnicity within its historical and intellectual context, this much needed guide focuses on three important conceptual areas: classical and contemporary theories of race and ethnicity; the body as an object of racial discourse and biological approaches to the question of race. Including over 150 definitions and discussions of key terms and ideas, each entry introduces students to its various meanings and the way it is currently, and the way it has historically been used. The authors reference conceptual themes of caste, pluralism and tribalism with a strong socio-cultural emphasis which cover: colonialism globalization modernity fundamentalism identity transculturation. Fully cross-referenced and with suggestions for further reading, this is the ideal resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students of race, ethnicity and nationalism. It will also be of great interest for those studying sociology, anthropology and politics.