The chapter discusses three contemporary Western approaches that critically problematize the questions of belonging and identity under conditions of late modernity. This discussion follows from the assumption that the desire for a sense of belonging is an anthropological constant, as well as the recognition that essentialized narratives of belonging are prone to violence and not suitable for the singularized, functionally differentiated, and pluralist societies of Western late modernity. The approaches that we critically problematize can be summarized under the keywords of “neo-communities” (Andreas Reckwitz), “functional differentiation” (Armin Nassehi), and “constitutional patriotism” (Jan-Werner Müller). After reviewing these approaches, we argue that each needs to incorporate the notion of ‘liminal space’ to either prevent tendencies of essentialization (Müller), or to be able to integrate social differentiation (Reckwitz and Nassehi). This is because such integration and respective alternative narratives provide a sense of belonging while also avoiding any form of essentialized narratives that are inevitably and violently exclusive, and as such, do not live up to the requirements of a pluralist world. The notion of liminal space proposes that the area in-between orthodox spaces (such as “the nation” or Gemeinschaft) is significant for critical narratives of belonging. Following this, we introduce the concept of transformativity in opposition to the persistent and essentializing language of identity. Both notions of liminal space and transformativity enable us to conceive of belonging under conditions of differentiation because they account for fluidity and change of society and politics.