Diversity, ethnicity and identity in South Asia

South Asia, home to nearly one-sixth of the world's population, is currently the focus of considerable academic attention. The emergence of India as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world has further sharpened the international focus on this region. South Asia is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world and, at the same time, the site of a longstanding process of cultural hybridization and symbiosis. The region has witnessed, over the past several centuries, as well as in recent years, highly significant and complex processes of ethnic identity-construction and ethnic conflict. This collection contributes to the study of South Asia in the context of its pervasive diversity and complexity, and the interface between change and continuity. The scholarly papers deal with a wide range of theoretical and empirical themes and issues in the context of South Asia, including multicultural state, pluralism, shifting identities, ethnic violence, national identity, tribal autonomy, and the interface of religion and identity.