The majority of the world's population now lives in cities. The social, cultural and economic problems and opportunities generated by this extraordinary concentration of demographic groups from increasingly diverse backgrounds has become symbolic of the contemporary human condition, and resulted in new forms of cultural conflict and dialogue. In this fascinating study, Michael Keith argues that both racial divisions and intercultural dialogue can only be understood in the context of the urbanism through which they are realized. He addresses debates in cultural theory and urban studies on topics such as: - the growth of cultural industries and the marketing of cities - social exclusion and violence - the nature of the ghetto - the cross-disciplinary conceptualization of cultural hybridity - the politics of third-way social policy. In considering the ways in which race is played out in the worlds most eminent cities, Keith argues that neither the utopian naivete of some invocations of cosmopolitan democracy, nor the pessimism of multicultural hell can adequately make sense of the changing nature of contemporary metropolitan life. Authoritative and informative, this book will be of interest to advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers of anthropology, cultural studies, geography, politics and sociology.