This paper reflects on the concepts of belonging, identity, difference and culture which inform understandings of social relations in the modern era. These have become particularly important in addressing the effects of transnational migration, “ethnic diversity” and racialisation in a range of social contexts. A critique of the ways in which “diversity” is talked about in current debates is also provided. 

This paper also reflects on the concept of intersectionality as a means of developing a more integrated analysis of social divisions and identities relating particularly to gender, ethnicity and class. It is clear that once we focus on the intersectionality of social divisions and identities, we can move away from essentialised notions of culture, difference and belonging.

However, the complexity of social divisions and their inter-relations, both as analytical categories and categories of practice asks us to rethink the terms that we use for understanding both identity formations and forms of inequality. A new approach to issues of social stratification is also raised by this exercise. This paper attempts to rethink “identity”, on the one hand, and the parameters of a social stratification analysis, on the other, and considers the utility of a focus on social location (and translocation), process, and context in this exercise.