larger units accompanied by discrimination and assimilation pressure.
Continuing migration has concomitantly worked as a countertendency, making
many urban environments more ethnically diverse. Yet the conflict potential
associated with ethnic intergroup relationships remains, as the more inclusive
identity of the big city does not always displace the less inclusive ‘heritage’
identities of migrants, or their marginalization by the dominant majority. As a
response, self-segregation is a noticeable trend among many groups whose
members embrace ethnic identities to counterbalance the individualization of
urban life and reduce the risk of being nobody.
Conclusions
The increased presence of immigrants in urban centres of the West has raised
public awareness of ethnic identity. Cultural anthropologists understand this kind
of identity as distinguishing population groups whose members agree on traits
that set them apart from others, notably race, language, and religion. While
members of groups thus defined tend to think of these criteria as fixed, they are
social rather than natural. Therefore, ethnic identities can adjust to changing
circumstances, although the members who affiliate with an ethnicity may be
convinced of its intransience.