No Problem Here: Understanding Racism in Scotland

by Neil Davidson (editor), Minna Liinpää (Editor), Maureen McBride (Editor)

Does Scotland have a problem with racism?

With its 'civic nationalism' and 'welcoming' attitude towards migrants and refugees, Scotland is understood to be relatively free of structural and institutional racism. As the contributors to this book show, such generalisations fail to withstand serious investigation. Their research into the historical record and contemporary reality tells a very different story.

Opening up a debate on a subject that has been shut down for too long, No Problem Here gathers together the views of academics, activists and anti-racism campaigners who argue that it is vital that the issue of racism be brought into the centre of public discourse.

Scotland's role in maintaining and extending slavery across the British Empire is finally beginning to receive the attention it deserves. Yet there is much more that needs to be said about racism in Scotland today.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2018

About the author

Neil Davidson lectured in sociology at the University of Glasgow and is the author of six books, including the Deutscher Prize–winning Discovering the Scottish Revolution and, most recently, Nation-States. He wrote some of the most widely read analyses of the previous referendum and Scottish independence for journals including Bella Caledonia, Jacobin, New Left Review, Radical Philosophy and Salvage.

Reviews

[Chester Cornford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any book that aims to shine light on an issue to a wider audience, particularly an issue often actively denied rather than simply unknown, is an important book. It is also important that that book is captivating while remaining accessible. This achieves neither. At best it is overly academic, at worst, incomprehensible. This can make some of its less clear arguments appear more tenuous than they should be, which doesn’t help the aim of the book. However, many of the arguments are important and will be new and novel to many readers.

It’s important that anyone interested in Scottish politics, culture or society is aware of the arguments presented, and it does cover a fairly wide range of issues, I just wish it could it do so more effectively.

[Frankie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The research is fascinating, but the book reads like a 200-page-long sociology lab report. Those not used to deciphering Academese and picking out the vital pieces of information will find it a huge challenge - given the topic of No Problem Here, I would argue that the opposite effect should be aimed for.

Scotland needs the stats and research, and this book functions as a hub for it, which is fantastic. However, there is so much more this book could have contributed to the conversation; instead it's bogged down by those same stats and research.

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up on this. Turgid, impenetrable “academese” meant it was difficult to engage with and this was exacerbated by numerous typos. Furthermore, it felt like the agenda had been set by the editors before the book had even been compiled. Each contribution seemed to boil down to the apparent similarity between the right wing nationalist views of UKIP, the Orange Order etc and the views of the SNP (although for wildly different reasons, depending on the contributor).

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christ alive this book was a slog, particularly the chapter on Sectarianism. Some good stuff in amongst it all though - particularly the chapters on Islamaphobia, and Travellers/Roma. Racism in Scotland is a topic that needs discussing, but such turgid and academic language does not encourage this!

[Nathan Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book for understanding racism in Scotland but might be the most accessible for some

[Cuppa Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overview of racist issues in Scotland, fairly academic and a little dry at times but presents some interesting ideas.

[✨arrianne✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of academic papers on racism and sectarianism in Scotland, some better written than others. I’m aware of an attitude that Scotland is better than England at this stuff, and maybe it has aspirations, but there’s a lot to be done.

The second last was my favourite by far, around race, ethnicity and employment. It’s so accessible, and practical, and states the problem and the first steps we can make to improve succinctly.