Brubaker's essay critiques the concept of 'groupism' in the study of ethnicity, race, and nationhood. It argues that the tendency to treat ethnic, racial, and national groups as fixed, bounded, and internally homogeneous entities is problematic. This 'groupism' leads to reification, where groups are treated as real, substantial things, often obscuring the complex, dynamic, and contingent nature of ethnicity. The essay suggests that ethnicity, race, and nationhood should be understood as relational, processual, and dynamic concepts rather than as static groups. It emphasizes the importance of analyzing how categories become invested with groupness through social, cultural, and political processes. The essay also highlights the role of organizations in ethnic conflict, arguing that these entities, not ethnic groups, are often the main protagonists. It further discusses the significance of framing and coding in shaping perceptions of ethnic conflict, noting that the 'ethnic' quality of violence is attributed to the context and interpretation rather than the behavior itself. The essay concludes with an analysis of a case study in Cluj, Romania, where ethnic conflict remained low and groupness did not crystallize, illustrating the variability and contingency of groupness. The overall argument is that ethnicity should be understood without groups, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced and dynamic approach to analyzing ethnic conflict and identity.Brubaker's essay critiques the concept of 'groupism' in the study of ethnicity, race, and nationhood. It argues that the tendency to treat ethnic, racial, and national groups as fixed, bounded, and internally homogeneous entities is problematic. This 'groupism' leads to reification, where groups are treated as real, substantial things, often obscuring the complex, dynamic, and contingent nature of ethnicity. The essay suggests that ethnicity, race, and nationhood should be understood as relational, processual, and dynamic concepts rather than as static groups. It emphasizes the importance of analyzing how categories become invested with groupness through social, cultural, and political processes. The essay also highlights the role of organizations in ethnic conflict, arguing that these entities, not ethnic groups, are often the main protagonists. It further discusses the significance of framing and coding in shaping perceptions of ethnic conflict, noting that the 'ethnic' quality of violence is attributed to the context and interpretation rather than the behavior itself. The essay concludes with an analysis of a case study in Cluj, Romania, where ethnic conflict remained low and groupness did not crystallize, illustrating the variability and contingency of groupness. The overall argument is that ethnicity should be understood without groups, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced and dynamic approach to analyzing ethnic conflict and identity.