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Race and Ethnicity in UK politics - Coggle Diagram
Race and Ethnicity in UK politics
Definitions
Race
originally linked to the idea of genealogy
18th century became linked to skin characteristics
Ethnicity
often used to include ancestry, roots, religion, traditions and customs
more fluid than race
Racism
emerged in 18th century
belief that people belonging to a certain group are inherently inferior
Types of racism
Overt or Covert
conscious or unconscious
individual or institutional
Biological racism
belief that there are genetically transfered characteristics between ethnic groups
Racial prejudice
a negative feeling towards a certain racial group
migration is temporary
immigration is permanent
Ethnicity in the UK
population
16% of british population belong to ethnic minorities
Uneven distribution
46.2% of Londoners described themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority
ethnicity in politics
1767 - first ethnic minority MP
Not until 1987 when first post-war ethnic minority MP was elected
ethnic minority MPs went into parliament to represent their party not their ethnic group
ethnic minorities are not a homogenous group
inequalities
confidence of police is lowest among black carribeans
ethnic minorities disproportionately stopped and searched
higher % of ethnic minorities in prison
unemployment rate is higher among ethnic minorities
In 2021-22 there was a peak in hate crimes with over 100,000 recorded
changes in perceptions
previously black carribeans faced the most prejudice
shift to cultural racism
islamaphobia
anti-immigrant and anti-asylum seeker racism
zeno-racism
not distinguishable by colour
includes racism against eastern europeans
anti-semitism
2024 over 2500 crimes were committed against jewish people
The salience of immigration was almost 0 in the 1980s but by 2007 it reached 20%
public opinion shapes policy
During Blair years immigration increased especially from EU
Backlash against immigration in Cameron years
people are hesitant to describe and experience as racist if it does not involve a physical altercation
Changing government policies
Pre WW2
Race relations date back to William 1 where people had to go through ports to enter country
1290 - Edward 1 expelled jewish population
1657 - Cromwell allowed jewish population to return
1905 aliens act - against jewish refugees
1948-1997
1948 british nationality act
granted british commonwealth citizens the right to enter and settle in the UK
1962 commonwealth immigrants act
immigrants had to provide proof of employment
wanted integration and control
did include measures to improve race relations
1965 race relations act
State had to tackle discrimination
had very little power
1971 immigrant act
halted new commonwealth immigration
1968 Enoch Powell's rivers of blood speech
1976 3rd race relations act
had more power
outlawed discrimination
helped secure black and asian vote for labour
New labour
Implemented measures to tackle issue of asylum seekers
Retreat from multiculturalism and renewed emphasis on integration especially after 7/7 attacks
introduction of point-based system for non EU migrants
Macpherson report found that there was institutional racism in the met police
2007 - equality and human rights commission established
Conservative party after Thatcher
Cameron
reduced racial rhetoric
encouraged BAME MPs
created a hostile environment for illegal immigrants
Johnson
accused of exploiting culture wars
offered resettlement schemes for Hong Kong residents
Why is there racism in the UK
theoretical arguments
education
those with higher education more likely to have liberal views
those with lower education more likely to feel threatened by migrants
Socialisation into a particular way of thinking
Countries with stronger social cohesion hold less racist views
levels of racial prejudice can depend on levels of intergroup interaction
far right populism
Brexit expressed nationalistic sentiment
immigrants perceived as lazy criminals
fear of losing national identity
political elite can win votes by playing the race card