sequently become influential in the study of religion and meaning in many other settings. This work has become theoretically and methodologically important for a fine-grained interpretive anthropology that explores symbolic meaning in its social setting, e.g. in terms of competition and conflict on the local level. Applications of Turner’s work can be found in diverse ethnographic settings: from arts festivals to rituals in organisations. Taking cognizance of renewed interest in studies of religious and ethnic identity in a globalising and ‘neo-liberalising’ world, this symposium explores the relevance and resonance of Turner’s work on ritual and the ‘social drama’.