This chapter provides an introduction to the volume. It describes the scope of the work, namely the comparative analysis of ethnic educational inequalities in ten Western countries at different stages of the educational career, and provides the intellectual rationale. In particular, the authors ask whether ethnic inequalities can be explained by the differences in the socioeconomic circumstances of the different ethnic communities, or whether minorities experience additional ethnic penalties (or premia) over and above their socioeconomic disadvantages (or, more rarely, socioeconomic advantages). They also ask whether some countries provide more favourable contexts for the integration of the second generation than do others, and if so what are the key features of the most favourable contexts? The authors conclude by summarising the main findings of the study.