Racism and Anti-Racism in Europe

'Remarkable ... a major contribution to our understanding and handling of one of the crucial contemporary issues that acquires more gravity by the day.' Zygmunt BaumanThis 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.

A comparative political sociology of anti-racism in Europe, showing the various discourses within this movement

AcknowledgementsList of InterviewsIntroduction. Anti-Racism, Sociology and the Political1. 'Race' & State: European modernity and the political idea of 'race'2. Explaining Racism: Anti-racist discourse between culture and the state3. Anti-Racist Orientations: France, Britain, Ireland, Italy4. Anti-Racism as Public Political Culture5. Who Says What For Whom and From Where? Anti-racism and political representationConclusion. Anti-Racist Futures: A sense of déjà vu or a journey into the unknown?BibliographyIndex