The rise and fall of the Caucasian race : a political history of racial identity / Bruce Baum.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 255-325) and index.

Introduction : "Caucasians" and the political history of racial identities -- Before the "Caucasian race" : antecedents of European racialism, ca. 1000-1684 -- Enlightenment science and the invention of the "Caucasian race," 1684-1795 -- Passage into "our ordinary forms of expression" : the "Caucasian race," ca. 1795-1850 -- Racialized nationalism and the partial eclipse of the "Caucasian race," ca. 1840-1935 -- The color line and the "Caucasian race" revival, 1935-51 -- Not-so-benign racialism : the "Caucasian race" after decolonization, 1952-2005 -- "Where Caucasian means black" : "race," nation, and the Chechen wars -- Conclusion : deconstructing "Caucasia," dismantling racism.