Synopsis Should the near-unquestioned ideal of equality necessarily create the ground for greater and greater cultural homogeneity? Oommen argues for ‘pluralism’—a positive value-orientation to cultural heterogeneity, in keeping with the spirit of democracy. He casts his net wide—this collection of essays concerns issues of seminal importance in understanding the modern world. Oommen recognizes that modernity has created sharp cleavages; that, in fact, not homogeneity but a more restless, intolerant heterogeneity is emerging. He explores the importance of identity-conferring differences, and primordial allegiances that are often recalcitrant. A rich and diverse collection of empirical data from across the world is presented, and analysed with reference to history and classical and contemporary social and political theory. These issues, of concern to any thinking person, are discussed by Oommen with clarity and precision. This book will be especially useful to scholars of sociology, political science and cultural studies.