Northern Ireland and the limits of the race relations framework. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gilligan, Chris
• Other Names: Coulter Colin guest-editor.; Shirlow Peter guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Capital & class. Volume 43:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 105
• Page End: 121
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: immigration -- migrant workers -- multiculturalism -- race relations framework; Economics -- Periodicals; Socialism -- Periodicals; 330.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0309816818818090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-8168

Abstract

Anti-immigrant racism has become a prominent issue in Northern Ireland since 1998. It is an issue that is routinely understood and tackled through a 'race relations' framework. The first part of this article outlines and discusses the data on immigration and on recorded racist incidents in Northern Ireland, within a race relations framework. The second part of the article argues that the race relations framework is inherently limited because it treats racism as a crime to be punished, rather than as a manifestation of contradictions within capitalism as a social system.