Race and Racism in Britain

“Written with John Solomos’ trademark accessibility, encyclopaedic knowledge and intellectual curiosity, this book explores a wide range of historical and contemporary issues and will inspire a new generation of thinkers.”

— Claire Alexander, Professor of Sociology, University of Manchester, UK


 


“Anchored in political and policy trends, this book is timely, original, insightful, and conceptually sophisticated...  This is an essential and accessible resource for students, teachers, and researchers to understand the changing terrain, and the role of race and racism in British society.”

— Ravinder Barn, Professor of Social Policy, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK


 


This Fourth Edition of a pioneering handbook provides a critical analysis of the origins and evolution of political and policy debates regarding race and racism in British society. Drawing on a broad range of both theoretical andhistorical research, the focus of the book is on the development of policies and debates in the period from the second half of the 20th Century to the present. The book is organized into twelve chapters which provide an overview of key trends, situating the development of policies and developments in relation to immigration and citizenship, race relations policies and broader agendas about multiculturalism and living with difference. In the substantive chapters of the book there is also a detailed discussion of such issues as policing, urban unrest and protest, racist politics, black and ethnic minority politics and conversations about multiculturalism. This new edition engages with both the historical background as well as contemporary developments to provide a novel and wide-ranging account of the role that questions about race and racism play in British society.


 


John Solomos is Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick, UK. He has researched and published widely on race and racism, with a particular focus on race and politics, forms of political participation and processes of racialisation. He is the Editor in Chief of the journal Ethnic and Racial Studies.