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Richard Jenkins reassesses the concept of ethnicity by examining critically, developing and expanding the anthropological model. He situates power relations and social categorization alongside group formation as necessary and interrelated aspects of the process of ethnic identification. He points out as a major weakness of established views the failure to take serious account of the local, cultural content of ethnic identity.

While ethnicity - as a social construct - is imagined, its effects are far from imaginary. Specific examples support the theoretical discussion to demonstrate the social mechanisms that construct ethnicity and the consequences upon people's experience. The discussion also encompasses: the `myth' of a plural society and postmodern notions of difference; the relationship between ethnicity, `race' and nationalism; language, violence and religion; and the everyday social construction of national identity.