Racism on the rise in Britain? A wake-up call...
Tue, 03 Jun 2014 09:46:00 BST
Professor of Youth and Policy Paul Thomas has published two books on the topic of Youth, Multiculturalism and Community Cohesion. Here he talks about the new research showing a rise in racial prejudice in Britain.
New research showing a significant increase in Britons prepared to identify themselves as 'racially prejudiced' is a shock to many. The latest edition of the British Social Attitudes survey confirms that open expression of racial prejudice has been growing steadily since 2001, so dispelling the cosy belief that racism will inevitably decline as British society becomes more ethnically diverse. Making sense of this trend is
less straightforward, as data from the 2011 National Census showed more local areas becoming culturally diverse and a continued increase in inter-ethnic marriages and relationships. However, this new survey does confirm the sense that racism is becoming more open, as shown by the success of far-right parties across Europe in the recent elections.
Here is a link to his piece in 'View from the North', the University academic blog: http://blogs.hud.ac.uk/academics/blog/2014/05/29/racism-on-the-rise-in-britain/
The 'Think' Project
In addition to his research, Professor Paul Thomas has also co-authored a report on the 'Think project aimed to challenge Far right Extremism amoung young people: "Now, for the first time, we know we can challenge extreme views through the direct engagement pioneered by EYST. All local areas need to learn from this success – and help young people counter the appeal of racist ideology and bigotry".
The ‘Think’ project is the brainchild of Swansea-based youth organisation the Ethnic Youth Support Team (EYST) and actually sets out to have those ‘dangerous conversations’ with young people about race, immigration, asylum, and extremism - and through these conversations helps young people to think for themselves. In the wake of the European elections, the success of UKIP, this has never been more pertinent, as recognised in recent national publicity for the Project (http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/27/welsh-youngsters-rethink-racism-think-project)
In the past, we have been content to just denounce these extreme views as ‘ignorant’ and ‘racist’’ say leading experts Professor Ted Cantle (ICoCo; author of the Government’s report in to the 2001 northern riots). The Think Project team will be sharing their approach with local policy-makers and youth practitioners in a seminar at the University of Huddersfield on 17th June 2014.
Speaking about the project, the University of Huddersfield’s Professor of Youth and Policy, Paul Thomas said: “We need to encourage young people away from extremism if we are to ensure a cohesive future for our society. The Think Project with its clear focus on young people represents a fresh approach which recognizes their grievances but also helps them to understand the reality rather than the rhetoric around asylum and immigration”
The project has been supported to date by the Welsh Government and the Big Lottery Innovation Fund, but it’s potential to be taken further and to play a key role in how the UK responds to the growth of support for far right ideas has been identified.
Two months later the Swansea-based youth charity is being held up as an example of the way to fight far-right ideology and extremism. The Think project, run by the Ethnic Youth Support Team based on St Helen’s Road, has been praised by academics for the way it tackles uncomfortable conversations with young people, about race, immigration, asylum, and extremism. Professor Ted Cantle, who founded the former Institute of Community Cohesion and Professor Paul Thomas, of the University of Huddersfield, authored a report on the project. They said: “In the past, we have been content to just denounce these extreme views as ignorant and racist. Now, for the first time, we know we can challenge extreme views through the direct engagement pioneered by EYST. “All local areas need to learn from this success — and help young people counter the appeal of racist ideology and bigotry.” Their report will be formally launched at an event in the House of Commons on March 18. The project has been supported to date by Lottery and Welsh Governemnt money.
