The essays in this volume focus on the themes of ethnicity, national identity and nationalism. They reinforce analyses of earlier studies in the 1960's and 1970's that 'communalism' is a dominant manifestation of Malaysia's multi-ethnic society. Communalism was and is seen as a phenomenon of every ethnic group working for its self-interest. Communalism has determined the nature and form of Malaysia's nationhood and despite its negative and deleterious effects, it is central to an understanding of the emergent nationalism, politics and multiculturalism of the new Malaysian society.