In Colonial Lives of Property Brenna Bhandar examines how modern property law contributes to the ... more In Colonial Lives of Property Brenna Bhandar examines how modern property law contributes to the formation of racial subjects in settler colonies and to the development of racial capitalism. Examining both historical cases and ongoing processes of settler colonialism in Canada, Australia, and Israel and Palestine, Bhandar shows how the colonial appropriation of indigenous lands depends upon ideologies of European racial superiority as well as upon legal narratives that equate civilized life with English concepts of property. In this way, property law legitimates and rationalizes settler colonial practices while it racializes those deemed unfit to own property. The solution to these enduring racial and economic inequities, Bhandar demonstrates, requires developing a new political imaginary of property in which freedom is connected to shared practices of use and community rather than individual possession.
ABSTRACT In this Rejoinder we seek to address the key issues raised by the four commentaries on o... more ABSTRACT In this Rejoinder we seek to address the key issues raised by the four commentaries on our edited book. We focus on the question of the shifting boundaries of the field of race and ethnic studies, the absences and gaps in what is covered, the limits of the post-racial, and the whitening of sociology. In conclusion, we suggest some alternative ways in which we would seek to address them.
We have seen in the previous two chapters that the genesis, legislative implementation and instit... more We have seen in the previous two chapters that the genesis, legislative implementation and institutionalisation of controls on black immigration was a complex process. Similarly, the development of anti-discrimination legislation and policies aimed at promoting greater equality of opportunity for black British citizens has been a thoroughly contradictory process based as much on political expediency as on any commitment to justice and equality. The three major Race Relations Acts passed since 1965, for example, have been highly controversial and have aroused the opposition of those who see them as an attempt to give favourable treatment to blacks over whites in the search for jobs, homes, and other goods. At points this kind of opposition has boiled over into open calls for the dismantling of the major institutions of what is sometimes called the race relations industry (Flew, 1984; Palmer, 1986).
In previous chapters, we have seen that the politicisation of race and related issues in the post... more In previous chapters, we have seen that the politicisation of race and related issues in the post-1945 period was a complex process, which involved interventions by successive governments, political parties, pressure groups, politicians and other political actors. The sequence of events that we have witnessed since 1945 have been the product of political mobilisation of one sort or another, rather than the inevitable consequence of processes beyond political control.
The aim of this book is twofold. First, to provide a critical introductory political analysis of ... more The aim of this book is twofold. First, to provide a critical introductory political analysis of the post-Second World War history of race and racism in Britain. This will involve a detailed overview of the historical context of race and immigration in British politics, the political responses to black immigration in the immediate post-war period, the pressures for legislative controls and restrictions, national and local policy developments in relation to such issues as racial discrimination and racial disadvantage, and the shifts in racial ideologies that took place during the period from the 1940s to the 1980s.
This book explores the central features of local political debates and initiatives about race and... more This book explores the central features of local political debates and initiatives about race and racial inequality in contemporary Britain. It provides a timely and authoritative overview of the main trends in this area and of developments in specific policy arenas, discussing the prospects for the 1990s, and suggesting avenues for further analysis.1
The previous five chapters have provided both a chronological and thematic analysis of racialised... more The previous five chapters have provided both a chronological and thematic analysis of racialised politics in the period from 1945 to the 1980s. The concerns of this and the following two chapters are somewhat different, though they are closely linked to the themes we have covered already at a more general level. The main objective of these chapters is to analyse in more detail something we have only touched upon in previous chapters: namely, the role of racial ideologies, political action and social movements in the racialisation of contemporary British politics.
The story of the politics of immigration from the nineteenth century onwards told in the previous... more The story of the politics of immigration from the nineteenth century onwards told in the previous chapter has shown us that immigration and race were contested issues long before the arrival of large numbers of black colonial immigrants from 1945. We have seen that the response of political institutions to the arrival of Irish, Jewish and black immigrants was complex and not uniform. The response to Irish migrants, despite a degree of opposition and some violent confrontation was markedly different from the attempts to exclude and control Jewish and black migrants. There was also a more limited political mobilisation in defence of the interests of these groups.
According to one recent commentator modern nation states seem to offer minorities the status of (... more According to one recent commentator modern nation states seem to offer minorities the status of (a) complete assimilation or (b) despised difference or exclusion (Asad, 1990b). While this argument may seem somewhat overstated it is also reflective of an on-going struggle in contemporary societies, including Britain, over the definition of who belongs and who does not.
This chapter covers an issue which is addressed inadequately in many texts about race and racism ... more This chapter covers an issue which is addressed inadequately in many texts about race and racism in contemporary British society, namely the role that earlier processes of migration and settlement played in shaping our understanding of this issue. The focus is specifically on the interplay of debates about race and immigration from the late nineteenth century and into the early part of this century. This is necessary because it is impossible to comprehend fully the politicisation of racial questions in Britain since 1945 without a historical perspective, despite the tendency of many recent studies to ignore this dimension.
In previous chapters we have seen that the politicisation of race and race-related issues since 1... more In previous chapters we have seen that the politicisation of race and race-related issues since 1945 has been a complex process involving interventions by successive governments, political parties, pressure groups, politicians and other political actors. The sequence of events that we have witnessed since 1945 have been the product of political mobilisation of one sort or another, rather than the inevitable consequence of processes beyond political control.
The version presented here may differ from the published version or, version of record, if you wi... more The version presented here may differ from the published version or, version of record, if you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the 'permanent WRAP URL' above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.
This introductory paper seeks to provide an overview of the key themes that run through the paper... more This introductory paper seeks to provide an overview of the key themes that run through the papers in this special issue. Taking their cue from some ongoing current debates about the meanings of citizenship, multiculturalism and identity in the contemporary environment, ...
Racialization has become one of the central concepts in the study of race and racism. It is widel... more Racialization has become one of the central concepts in the study of race and racism. It is widely used in both theoretical and empirical studies of racial situations. There has been a proliferation of texts that use this notion in quite diverse ways. It is used broadly to refer to ways of thinking about race as well as to institutional processes that give expression to forms of ethno-racial categorization. An important issue in the work of writers such as Robert Miles, for example, concerns the ways in which the construction of race is shaped historically and how the usage of that idea forms a basis for exclusionary practices. The concept therefore refers both to cultural or political processes or situations where race is invoked as an explanation, as well as to specific ideological practices in which race is deployed. It is evident, however, that despite the increasing popularity of the concept of racialization there has been relatively little critical analysis exploring its theoretical and empirical usages. It is with this underlying concern in mind that Racialization: Studies in Theory and Practice brings together leading international scholars in the field of race and ethnicity in order to explore both the utility of the concept and its limitations.
In Colonial Lives of Property Brenna Bhandar examines how modern property law contributes to the ... more In Colonial Lives of Property Brenna Bhandar examines how modern property law contributes to the formation of racial subjects in settler colonies and to the development of racial capitalism. Examining both historical cases and ongoing processes of settler colonialism in Canada, Australia, and Israel and Palestine, Bhandar shows how the colonial appropriation of indigenous lands depends upon ideologies of European racial superiority as well as upon legal narratives that equate civilized life with English concepts of property. In this way, property law legitimates and rationalizes settler colonial practices while it racializes those deemed unfit to own property. The solution to these enduring racial and economic inequities, Bhandar demonstrates, requires developing a new political imaginary of property in which freedom is connected to shared practices of use and community rather than individual possession.
ABSTRACT In this Rejoinder we seek to address the key issues raised by the four commentaries on o... more ABSTRACT In this Rejoinder we seek to address the key issues raised by the four commentaries on our edited book. We focus on the question of the shifting boundaries of the field of race and ethnic studies, the absences and gaps in what is covered, the limits of the post-racial, and the whitening of sociology. In conclusion, we suggest some alternative ways in which we would seek to address them.
We have seen in the previous two chapters that the genesis, legislative implementation and instit... more We have seen in the previous two chapters that the genesis, legislative implementation and institutionalisation of controls on black immigration was a complex process. Similarly, the development of anti-discrimination legislation and policies aimed at promoting greater equality of opportunity for black British citizens has been a thoroughly contradictory process based as much on political expediency as on any commitment to justice and equality. The three major Race Relations Acts passed since 1965, for example, have been highly controversial and have aroused the opposition of those who see them as an attempt to give favourable treatment to blacks over whites in the search for jobs, homes, and other goods. At points this kind of opposition has boiled over into open calls for the dismantling of the major institutions of what is sometimes called the race relations industry (Flew, 1984; Palmer, 1986).
In previous chapters, we have seen that the politicisation of race and related issues in the post... more In previous chapters, we have seen that the politicisation of race and related issues in the post-1945 period was a complex process, which involved interventions by successive governments, political parties, pressure groups, politicians and other political actors. The sequence of events that we have witnessed since 1945 have been the product of political mobilisation of one sort or another, rather than the inevitable consequence of processes beyond political control.
The aim of this book is twofold. First, to provide a critical introductory political analysis of ... more The aim of this book is twofold. First, to provide a critical introductory political analysis of the post-Second World War history of race and racism in Britain. This will involve a detailed overview of the historical context of race and immigration in British politics, the political responses to black immigration in the immediate post-war period, the pressures for legislative controls and restrictions, national and local policy developments in relation to such issues as racial discrimination and racial disadvantage, and the shifts in racial ideologies that took place during the period from the 1940s to the 1980s.
This book explores the central features of local political debates and initiatives about race and... more This book explores the central features of local political debates and initiatives about race and racial inequality in contemporary Britain. It provides a timely and authoritative overview of the main trends in this area and of developments in specific policy arenas, discussing the prospects for the 1990s, and suggesting avenues for further analysis.1
The previous five chapters have provided both a chronological and thematic analysis of racialised... more The previous five chapters have provided both a chronological and thematic analysis of racialised politics in the period from 1945 to the 1980s. The concerns of this and the following two chapters are somewhat different, though they are closely linked to the themes we have covered already at a more general level. The main objective of these chapters is to analyse in more detail something we have only touched upon in previous chapters: namely, the role of racial ideologies, political action and social movements in the racialisation of contemporary British politics.
The story of the politics of immigration from the nineteenth century onwards told in the previous... more The story of the politics of immigration from the nineteenth century onwards told in the previous chapter has shown us that immigration and race were contested issues long before the arrival of large numbers of black colonial immigrants from 1945. We have seen that the response of political institutions to the arrival of Irish, Jewish and black immigrants was complex and not uniform. The response to Irish migrants, despite a degree of opposition and some violent confrontation was markedly different from the attempts to exclude and control Jewish and black migrants. There was also a more limited political mobilisation in defence of the interests of these groups.
According to one recent commentator modern nation states seem to offer minorities the status of (... more According to one recent commentator modern nation states seem to offer minorities the status of (a) complete assimilation or (b) despised difference or exclusion (Asad, 1990b). While this argument may seem somewhat overstated it is also reflective of an on-going struggle in contemporary societies, including Britain, over the definition of who belongs and who does not.
This chapter covers an issue which is addressed inadequately in many texts about race and racism ... more This chapter covers an issue which is addressed inadequately in many texts about race and racism in contemporary British society, namely the role that earlier processes of migration and settlement played in shaping our understanding of this issue. The focus is specifically on the interplay of debates about race and immigration from the late nineteenth century and into the early part of this century. This is necessary because it is impossible to comprehend fully the politicisation of racial questions in Britain since 1945 without a historical perspective, despite the tendency of many recent studies to ignore this dimension.
In previous chapters we have seen that the politicisation of race and race-related issues since 1... more In previous chapters we have seen that the politicisation of race and race-related issues since 1945 has been a complex process involving interventions by successive governments, political parties, pressure groups, politicians and other political actors. The sequence of events that we have witnessed since 1945 have been the product of political mobilisation of one sort or another, rather than the inevitable consequence of processes beyond political control.
The version presented here may differ from the published version or, version of record, if you wi... more The version presented here may differ from the published version or, version of record, if you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the 'permanent WRAP URL' above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.
This introductory paper seeks to provide an overview of the key themes that run through the paper... more This introductory paper seeks to provide an overview of the key themes that run through the papers in this special issue. Taking their cue from some ongoing current debates about the meanings of citizenship, multiculturalism and identity in the contemporary environment, ...
Racialization has become one of the central concepts in the study of race and racism. It is widel... more Racialization has become one of the central concepts in the study of race and racism. It is widely used in both theoretical and empirical studies of racial situations. There has been a proliferation of texts that use this notion in quite diverse ways. It is used broadly to refer to ways of thinking about race as well as to institutional processes that give expression to forms of ethno-racial categorization. An important issue in the work of writers such as Robert Miles, for example, concerns the ways in which the construction of race is shaped historically and how the usage of that idea forms a basis for exclusionary practices. The concept therefore refers both to cultural or political processes or situations where race is invoked as an explanation, as well as to specific ideological practices in which race is deployed. It is evident, however, that despite the increasing popularity of the concept of racialization there has been relatively little critical analysis exploring its theoretical and empirical usages. It is with this underlying concern in mind that Racialization: Studies in Theory and Practice brings together leading international scholars in the field of race and ethnicity in order to explore both the utility of the concept and its limitations.
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