The politics of multiculturalism : race and racism in contemporary Britain

Taking as a case study the racial politics of the British state under New Labour, this book advances an idea of multiculturalism as the only conceptual framework that is capable of making sense of the contradictions of contemporary race practice, where racism is simultaneously rejected and reproduced. "What does racism look like in the twenty-first century? Why does it continue to blight our societies when it is so widely rejected, and how do we combat racist practices when dominant social actors and institutions embrace the language of diversity and cultural difference? This book provides an original and innovative response to these questions. Taking as a case study the racial politics of the British state under New Labour, Ben Pitcher advances an idea of multiculturalism as the only conceptual framework that is capable of making sense of the contradictions of contemporary race practice, where racism is simultaneously rejected and reproduced. From explorations of the politics of nationalism to multiculturalism and the War on Terror, this book is a wide-ranging investigation of some of the most urgent and controversial issues of our times. Introduction: The Politics of Multiculturalism Understanding the Politics of Multiculturalism Black in the Union Jack: The Britishness Project Multiculturalism, Community and 'the White Working Class' Multicultural Conflicts: The 'Feminist' State On the Islamic Question: Multicultural Nationalism and the War on Terror Conclusion: Multiculturalism Beyond 'The Death of Multiculturalism' Notes References Index BEN PITCHER teaches Sociology and Cultural studies at Middlesex University, University of East London and London South Bank, UK."--Publisher's website Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction: The Politics of Multiculturalism......Page 12 1 Understanding the Politics of Multiculturalism......Page 22 2 Black in the Union Jack: The Britishness Project......Page 50 3 Multiculturalism, Community and ‘the White Working Class’......Page 86 4 Multicultural Conflicts: The ‘Feminist’ State......Page 120 5 On the Islamic Question: Multicultural Nationalism and the War on Terror......Page 146 Conclusion: Multiculturalism beyond ‘the Death of Multiculturalism’......Page 174 Notes......Page 189 References......Page 204 B......Page 224 C......Page 225 F......Page 226 I......Page 227 M......Page 228 P......Page 229 S......Page 230 Z......Page 231