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