Race, Discourse and Labourism

by Caroline Knowles

Race, Discourse and Labourism documents the Labour party's construction of the concept of race in political discourse from the 1930s Indian independence negotiations and the defence of jews from anti-semitic attack in East London. Caroline Knowles argues that in these historical processes Labour constructed a range of negative significances for black citizenship and multi-culturalism and, despite recasting its approach to race in the 1960s and early 1970s, Labour is still unable to officially sanction the effective representation of black voices in its own ranks. The author shows that Labour has not only tolerated racial inequality, it has given it important political direction. Race, Discourse and Labourism is about political processes. It is about the theoretical and political analysis of how race was constructed and sustained as a category in British politics.

Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 1992