Racism And Anti-Racism In Europe

by Lentin, Alana

• ISBN13: 9780745322209
• ISBN10: 0745322204
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-20
• Publisher: PLUTO PRESS (UK)

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 polemics 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.

Author Biography

Alana Lentin is currently a research fellow at the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford. She has recently completed her PhD at the European Institute of Florence and has published many articles on racism.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
List of Interviews	xi
Introduction: Anti-Racism, Sociology and the Political	1	(34)
Why Anti-Racism?	4	(5)
Historicising Anti-Racism	9	(3)
Anti-Racism and Europe	12	(5)
Intercontinental Influences	17	(7)
The Interpretative Capacity of Anti-Racism	24	(7)
Writing a Sociology of Anti-Racism	31	(4)
1 'Race and State': European Modernity and the Political Idea of 'Race'	35	(37)
'Race' and Racism, Nation and State	38	(11)
Internal Rationalisation/External Fortification	49	(9)
Racism, Antisemitism and the Paradoxes of Equality	58	(7)
Racism, Europeanness and the Ideal of Humanity	65	(7)
2 Explaining Racism: Anti-Racist Discourse between Culture and the State	72	(41)
The Culturalism of the UNESCO Tradition	74	(11)
Culturalism and the Theorisation of a Neoracism	85	(11)
Anti-Colonialism, 'Race' and Class	96	(10)
Conclusion: The Return of Culture	106	(7)
3 Anti-Racist Orientations: France, Britain, Ireland, Italy	113	(66)
Touche Pas à Mon Pote!: The Emergence of Anti-Racism in France	115	(14)
Black and White, Unite and Fight:-The Emergence of Anti-Racism in Britain	129	(20)
All Different All Equal All Exploited: The Emergence of Anti-Racism in Ireland	149	(14)
'Lavoratori Immigrati, Rompere la Catena dei Ricatti di Padroni e Governo Italiani': The Emergence of Anti-Racism in Italy	163	(14)
Conclusion	177	(2)
4 Anti-Racism as Public Political Culture	179	(58)
Anti-Racism in Crisis	180	(17)
Majoritarians and Communitarians	197	(21)
Anti-Racism or Anti-Fascism?	218	(17)
Conclusion	235	(2)
5 Who Says What, for Whom and from Where? Anti-Racism and Political Representation	237	(69)
Anti-Racism and Political Representation: Beyond Visibility	240	(25)
Keeping it Real: Authenticity or Experience?	265	(9)
Selling Out? Claiming Rights or Asserting Independence	274	(13)
Bringing it All Back Home: Localised or Globalised Anti-Racism?	287	(13)
Conclusion: The Possibility of Alliance	300	(6)
Conclusion: Anti-Racist Futures: A Sense of Déjà Vu or a Journey into the Unknown?	306	(5)
Policing Strangers: Anti-Racism in Context	311	(2)
'Globalising' Culture? Anti-Racism's Response	313	(5)
Notes	318	(3)
Bibliography	321	(10)
Index	331