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Courses / Modules / SSPC3015 Race and Ethnicity in Society

Race and Ethnicity in Society

When you'll study it
Semester 2
CATS points
15
ECTS points
7.5
Level
Level 6
Module lead
Maria Villares-Varela
Academic year
2025-26

Module overview

This module will explore the issues of race, racism, racial conflict, and race relations in contemporary Britain and worldwide. Although we will mainly refer to Britain, global examples from Europe, the US, the Caribbean, Africa, and South America will be frequently used. Beginning with colonial discourses of the 鈥渞acial other鈥, and focusing on the start of mass colonial mass immigration to Britain in the aftermath of World War Two, this module will examine the various historical, social, cultural, and political forces and processes through which the concept and reality of race have been constructed, shaped, and changed over time.

The intellectual rationale of this module is to introduce race and ethnicity both as arbitrary labels that are pinned on people who are 鈥渄ifferent鈥 from 鈥渦s鈥, while also being experienced as 鈥渓ived鈥 social divisions that impact on and limit people鈥檚 welfare, opportunities, and horizons through prejudice, and direct or indirect discrimination.

Some key questions and issues that we will be thinking and talking about during this module include: What is race and racism? How/When does race emerge as a concept and a lived reality? Has racism always existed? (Why) is 鈥渢he other鈥 such a threat? (How) can race be understood as a social division? How does race relate to gender, ethnicity, politics and culture? Is nationalism a bad thing? Are some civilisations/cultures better than others? Is 鈥渄ifference鈥 a good or a bad thing? Do we/can we ever live in a post-racial world? (Why) has multiculturalism failed? Is cosmopolitanism a utopia?