This volume provides an important contribution to the knowledge of localism problems in Europe. Through a detailed analysis it highlights the importance of localism and its deep links with the re-emerging spirit of community. Starting from the hypothesis that at the end of the century Europe shall be forced to recognise the many and varied cultural bases of the individual nations of which it is composed, the various essay open the debate on the particularisms which emerge in nations such as Belorussia and Lithuania, for example.

At the same time, they underline the fact that Europe today is faced with a real "invention" of a society rather than with a "transitional" one leading towards an already known form of society. In particular, the strongly theoretical opening essay by Edward Shils is at the same time a summary and a scientific testament of the studies conduted on the local community by the eminent sociologist of Chicago during his sixty years of intense academic activity.

Luigi Tomasi (University of Trento). teaches sociology at the Faculty of Sociology at the University of Trento. From 1992 to 1994 he has taught "Sociology of Local Communities" at the same Faculty. His research concerns "sociolocal theory", the sociology of "religion" and development. He has authored or edited numerous works: The Young People of Eastern and Western Europe(1991). Young People and Religion in Europe. Persistance and Change in Values (1993); The New-Europe and the Value Orientations of Young People. East-West Comparisons (1994); Robert E. Park and the melting-pot theory (1994). Teoria sociologica ed investigazione empirica (1995). Youth and Religion in Italy (1995). For many years he has a Visiting Scolar at the Committee on Social Trought of the University of Chicago and Vising professor art the University of Phnom Penh. Futhermore, he is the secretary of the "Sociology of Religion" section of the Italian Sociological Association and the Chairperson of the European Centre for Traditional and Regional Cultures.