Communities, Networks and Ethnic Politics

This text presents an examination of how Gujaratis developed ethnic politics so that they could exploit a gap between the grassroots, the local political parties and the formal political structures. The book offers an indepth analysis of local and ethnic community power rather than of black national power, and examines how Gujarati participation in local politics is constrained partly by their loyalty to Gujarati identity, partly by local political structures and partly by racism within political parties. The text also discusses how the 1976 Race Relations Act and Equal Opportunities Legislation have not altered the situation in any significant way, and the debate about the participation of black people in politics remains on the agenda.