Industrialization and Assimilation: Understanding Ethnic Change in the Modern World

Industrialization and Assimilation explores how ethnic identity changes over time, arguing that it leads to more ethnically homogenous societies by altering the basis of economic production and removing people from rural life. It uses large-scale datasets and case studies to demonstrate this, providing a new framework to understand the origins of modern ethnic identities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 225 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Industrialization and Assimilation delves into the intricate process of ethnic identity transformation within a broad historical framework. Green offers a comprehensive explanation of how and why ethnicity evolves over time, highlighting the profound impact of industrialization on shaping societies into more ethnically homogeneous entities. Specifically, the author contends that industrialization leads to a decrease in the relative value of rural land, prompting individuals to shift their affiliations from narrow rural identities to broader ones that can facilitate their navigation within the formal urban economy.

To support this argument, Industrialization and Assimilation employs extensive datasets spanning the globe, complemented by detailed case studies encompassing diverse regions such as mid-twentieth-century Turkey, contemporary Botswana, Somalia, and Uganda. Additionally, evidence from Native Americans in the United States and the Māori in New Zealand is integrated to provide a holistic understanding of the origins of modern ethnic identities.

Through this comprehensive analysis, Industrialization and Assimilation presents a novel framework for comprehending the intricate origins of contemporary ethnic identities. It sheds light on the mechanisms by which industrialization, land value changes, and urbanization contribute to the formation and evolution of diverse ethnic groups worldwide. By exploring the interplay between these factors, the book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics shaping our contemporary social landscape.

ISBN-13: 9781009268370