Will Hindu nationalism tear India apart? Essential background to this is the question of ethnic violence, a reality in India since Partition. The early sections of this book – debating theories of ethnic conflict – will interest only specialists, but the analysis of India, teased out through interviews and statistical research, is fascinating. Ashutosh Varshney finds that ethnic violence, far from being a national phenomenon, is confined to certain areas of India. He then sets three violent cities against three non-violent locales and tries to tease out the differences. In the peaceful cities, he concludes, Hindus and Muslims are brought together in civil associations that create a sense of familiarity and interdependence. An important insight for India, and the world.