This book provides an interesting, and in many ways original, approach to the understanding of ethnic identity formation. The author argues that ethnic identity is malleable, and in detailed and carefully documented case studies of four countries he shows how groups and individuals adjust their identities in response to political opportunities and pressures and policy incentives and constraints. Analyzing the tensions between assimilation and identity maintenance, and discussing how his findings relate to, and challenge, instrumentalist, constructivist, and other explanations, the author makes an important contribution to theorizing about ethnicity.

William Safran, University of Colorado, Boulder

Ethnic Realignments is a short book that clearly articulates its main argument....this is a clear and well-written addition to the debate.

2008, Political Studies Review

This book is an important addition to our knowledge on the contextual natureof ethnicity. Through a careful examination of census data, Matthew Hoddie reveals the relationship that exists between preferential government policies and ethnic identity change.

Donald Rothchild, University of California, Davis