I agree that the empirical evidence show the increasing diversity and complexity of the situation in the UK, and that class is a crucial variable impacting differential outcomes. I think some of the social analyis of the 1980s .. I'm thinking about writers such as Sivanandan and John Rex gave a strong account that was rooted in Marxist analysis. I would be happy if we could rediscover that emphasis.
Some of the contemporary "woke" comment seems to be more rooted in cultural analysis, readings of colonial history and over generalises from the case of the USA. I am still sceptical that this is coherent enough to be labelled "critical race theory", except as a bogey term promoted by the populist right.
One contemprary tool that IS useful is analysis of Intersectionality. We need to work hard with this to include the variables of gender, class, religion, heritage languages, and national and diaspora cultures.
The politics of all this is, I think, distorted because of today's tendencies to take binary positions, and the inability of an age dominated by social media to handle nuance, or hold collaborative debates.
The pitfall for any of us (especially old white men who do indeed still have privilege) is to ask for a nuanced approach without being open to acusations, that just like the Imperialists of yesteryear that we want to "divide and rule".
Theoretically we should be working to ensure a variety of voices from diverse backgrounds are heard.... But it's not easy, when loud minoritised voices include Rishi Sunak, Suella Braveman and Kemi Badenoch... Or more locally in our own street.. one of our good neighbours, a Hindu is currently in India, joining in with the celeebrations of the new Lord Ram temple in Ayodia, while another family down the road of Indian Muslim heritage are uncomfortable at least, and some of us who are Christians are regularly praying for Christians in India who are facing hostility and persecution at the hands of Modi supporting Hindus.
Thanks John... This new blog of mine may add to the debate
https://williamtemplefoundation.org.uk/positionality/
Thanks John,
I agree that the empirical evidence show the increasing diversity and complexity of the situation in the UK, and that class is a crucial variable impacting differential outcomes. I think some of the social analyis of the 1980s .. I'm thinking about writers such as Sivanandan and John Rex gave a strong account that was rooted in Marxist analysis. I would be happy if we could rediscover that emphasis.
Some of the contemporary "woke" comment seems to be more rooted in cultural analysis, readings of colonial history and over generalises from the case of the USA. I am still sceptical that this is coherent enough to be labelled "critical race theory", except as a bogey term promoted by the populist right.
One contemprary tool that IS useful is analysis of Intersectionality. We need to work hard with this to include the variables of gender, class, religion, heritage languages, and national and diaspora cultures.
The politics of all this is, I think, distorted because of today's tendencies to take binary positions, and the inability of an age dominated by social media to handle nuance, or hold collaborative debates.
The pitfall for any of us (especially old white men who do indeed still have privilege) is to ask for a nuanced approach without being open to acusations, that just like the Imperialists of yesteryear that we want to "divide and rule".
Theoretically we should be working to ensure a variety of voices from diverse backgrounds are heard.... But it's not easy, when loud minoritised voices include Rishi Sunak, Suella Braveman and Kemi Badenoch... Or more locally in our own street.. one of our good neighbours, a Hindu is currently in India, joining in with the celeebrations of the new Lord Ram temple in Ayodia, while another family down the road of Indian Muslim heritage are uncomfortable at least, and some of us who are Christians are regularly praying for Christians in India who are facing hostility and persecution at the hands of Modi supporting Hindus.