The Political Representation of Ethnic Minorities in the UK in Comparative Perspective
An Economic and Social Research Council Seminar Series
The election of Barack Obama as President represents a landmarkin the history of racial politics in the U.S. The US has not only chosen a leader who embodies the union of black and white America, it has elected a Presidentwho reflects the ties between established Americans and new immigrants. The victory of Obama has triggered wider debate in Europe and the UK particularly, as to whether someone from an ethnic minoritycould achieve similar sucess in national politics. The series will explorethe prospectsfor ethnic minority represntation in Britain and the barriers to achieving it.
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Electoral Context I: The role of the electorate in selecting minority candidates: public opinion and electoral preferences
13th April 2010
Seminar Room G, Department of Sociology, Manor Road Building, Manor Road, University of Oxford, OX1 3UQ. Please click here for more details
This seminar will assess the impact of racial and anti-immigrant prejudice on white majority voters in Britain and elsewhere, nowadays and in the historical perspective. It will examine whether public acceptance of ethnic minorities has changed over time and if so what is driving this rise. It will examine the broad political impact of diversity and prejudice on the electorates: from political trust to acceptance of party messages.
It will also consider the methodological challenges presented by efforts to measure racial attitudes, where prevailing social norms may encourage dishonest responses. For example, new experimental survey techniques have begun to find subtle ways to get round these norms and measure racial stereotypes and prejudices implicitly. The seminar will also turn the lens on ethnic minorities as voters and examine the extent to which they are incorporated into mainstream electoral politics. How do they differ (or not) from the white population in terms of voting, partisanship and political preferences and what are their effects (if any) on prospects for ethnic minority candidates, particularly in marginal seats?
Racial and religious prejudice in politics
Prof Marc Swyngedouw, University of Leuven, - Anti-immigrant feeling and Islamofobia in the Belgian Flemish and Francophone electorate compared: 1991 – 2007
Dr Rob Ford, University of Manchester - The political mobilisation of prejudice; a survey experiment on the role of messages and messengers
Discussant: Dr Scott Blinder, University of Oxford.
Minority electoral behaviour
Dr Maria Sobolewska, University Oxford - Ethnic mobilisation and electoral participation of ethnic minorities in Britain
Dirk Jacobs, University of Brussels – Ethnic voting in Brussels. Voting Patters among Ethnic Minorities in
Brussels (Belgium) during the 2006 Local Elections
Discussant: Prof Chris Wlezien, Temple University.
Impact of diversity on political attitudes
Prof Miles Hewstone, University of Oxford -Impact of diversity on social and political attitudes: Social-psychological insights.
Dr Lauren McLaren, University of Nottingham - Diversity and Trust in Politics in Britain (Click here to view the paper)
Discussant: Prof Anthony Heath, University of Oxford.
There is no cost involved in attending the seminar, however we would like to be able to gauge the number of people of who will be attending, as well as keeping you up to date with details for the event, therefore if you would like to attend the event please complete the booking form below.
Please click here to view the agenda.
Organised by Institute for Social Change (ISC) and Democracy, Citizens and Elections Research Network (DCERN)
Co-organised by Department of Sociology, University of Oxford.
For more information please contact socialchange@manchester.ac.uk
To download a pdf poster advertising this seminar please click here