Max Weber's concept of social closure states that a dominant group safeguards its position and privileges by monopolizing resources and opportunities for its own group while denying access to outsiders. Using this idea, Murphy here examines the reasons for social inequality in contemporary society. Using Quebec as a case study, He shows how language controls social actions and material interests, and then compares the situation in Canada with those in Northern Ireland and South Africa, where religion and race respectively are used as criteria for exclusion.