Racism and anti-racism in europe / Alana Lentin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lentin, Alana.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Europe--Ethnic relations.

Europe.

Ethnic relations.

Racism--Europe.

Racism.

Physical Description:

xii, 338 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; Ann Arbor, MI : Pluto Press, 2004.

Summary:

This is an in-depth sociological study of the phenomenon of anti-racism, as both political discourse and social movement practice in western Europe. Lentin develops a comparative study of anti-racism in Britain, France, Italy and Ireland. While 'race' and racism have been submitted to many profound analyses, anti-racism has often been dealt with as either the mere opposite of racism or as a theme for prescriptives or poleics by those concerned with the persistence of racist discrimination. By contrast, this book views anti-racism as a variety of discourses that are central to the understanding of the politics of modern states. Examining anti-racism gives us insights not only into current debates on citizenship, immigration and Europeanisation, but it also crucially assists us in understanding the nature of race, racism and racialisation themselves. At a time of mounting state racism against asylum seekers, migrants and refugees throughout Europe and beyond, this book provides a much-needed exploration of the discourse of anti-racism that shapes policy and public opinion today.

Contents:

Introduction: Anti-Racism, Sociology and the Political 1

Why Anti-Racism? 4

Historicising Anti-Racism 9

Anti-Racism and Europe 12

Intercontinental Influences 17

The Interpretative Capacity of Anti-Racism 24

Writing a Sociology of Anti-Racism 31

1 'Race and State': European Modernity and the Political Idea of 'Race' 35

'Race' and Racism, Nation and State 38

Internal Rationalisation/External Fortification 49

Racism, Antisemitism and the Paradoxes of Equality 58

Racism, Europeanness and the Ideal of Humanity 65

2 Explaining Racism: Anti-Racist Discourse between Culture and the State 72

The Culturalism of the UNESCO Tradition 74

Culturalism and the Theorisation of a Neoracism 85

Anti-Colonialism, 'Race' and Class 96

Conclusion: The Return of Culture 106

3 Anti-Racist Orientations: France, Britain, Ireland, Italy 113

Touche Pas a Mon Pote!: The Emergence of Anti-Racism in France 115

Black and White, Unite and Fight: The Emergence of Anti-Racism in Britain 129

All Different All Equal All Exploited: The Emergence of Anti-Racism in Ireland 149

'Lavoratori Immigrati, Rompere la Catena dei Ricatti di Padroni e Governo Italiani': The Emergence of Anti-Racism in Italy 163

4 Anti-Racism as Public Political Culture 179

Anti-Racism in Crisis 180

Majoritarians and Communitarians 197

Anti-Racism or Anti-Fascism? 218

5 Who Says What, for Whom and from Where? Anti-Racism and Political Representation 237

Anti-Racism and Political Representation: Beyond Visibility 240

Keeping it Real: Authenticity or Experience? 265

Selling Out? Claiming Rights or Asserting Independence 274

Bringing it All Back Home: Localised or Globalised Anti-Racism? 287

Conclusion: The Possibility of Alliance 300

Conclusion: Anti-Racist Futures: A Sense of Deja Vu or a Journey into the Unknown? 306

Policing Strangers: Anti-Racism in Context 311

'Globalising' Culture? Anti-Racism's Response 313.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 318-330) and index.

ISBN:

0745322212

0745322204

OCLC:

53814486