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Racial states, anti-racist responses: picking holes in ‘culture’ and ‘human rights’

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 14:04 authored by Alana Lentin
This paper examines seeks to re-examine two major assumptions in mainstream anti-racist thought of the post-war era. These are culturalism, on the one hand, and human rights on the other, both of which have been offered as potential solutions to the ongoing problem of racism. I argue that both fail to cope with racism as it has been institutionalised in the political and social structures of European societies because they inaccurately theorise ‘race’. Racism is treated as an individual attitude born of prejudice and ignorance and not as a political project that emerged under specific conditions within the context of the European nation-state. A re-examination of this legacy of modernity and a questioning of the structuring principles of anti-racism is necessary in the current context of racism against migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

European Journal of Social Theory

ISSN

1461-7137

Issue

4

Volume

7

Page range

427-423

Department affiliated with

  • Sociology and Criminology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2007-08-30

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