Moving beyond the traditional dichotomies of social theory, Understanding Social Inequality brings the study of social stratification and inequality into the 21st century. Starting with the widely agreed ''fact'' that the world is becoming more unequal, this book pulls together the ''identity of displacement'' in sociology and the ''spaces of flow'' of geography to show how place has become an increasingly important focus for understanding new trends in social inequality. The book charts a path through current debates and issues that studies of social inequality cannot afford to ignore. Accessible and engagingly written, this book stimulates the ''sociological imagination'', prompting readers to link personal experiences and public issues.