
British Multiculturalism and the Politics of Representation
Lasse Thomassen(Author)
Edinburgh University Press
Published on 8. May 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-4744-2266-6 (ISBN)
Description
Uses poststructuralist theory to connect inclusion, exclusion and identity, using real-world case studies from British culture, politics and law
Lasse Thomassen applies a fresh, poststructuralist approach to reconcile the theoretical and practical issues surrounding inclusion, exclusion and representation. He opens up debates and themes including Britishness, race, the nature and role of Islam in British society, homelessness and social justice.
Thomassen argues that the politics of inclusion and identity should be viewed as struggles over how these identities are represented. He develops this argument through careful analysis of cases from the last four decades of British multiculturalism, including public debates about the role of religion in British society, Gordon Brown and David Cameron's contrasting versions of Britishness, legal cases about religious symbols and clothing in schools, and the Nick Hornby novel How to Be Good.
Lasse Thomassen applies a fresh, poststructuralist approach to reconcile the theoretical and practical issues surrounding inclusion, exclusion and representation. He opens up debates and themes including Britishness, race, the nature and role of Islam in British society, homelessness and social justice.
Thomassen argues that the politics of inclusion and identity should be viewed as struggles over how these identities are represented. He develops this argument through careful analysis of cases from the last four decades of British multiculturalism, including public debates about the role of religion in British society, Gordon Brown and David Cameron's contrasting versions of Britishness, legal cases about religious symbols and clothing in schools, and the Nick Hornby novel How to Be Good.
Reviews / Votes
This is a book of great originality that contributes new insights to the politics of representation. Thomassen makes a bold contribution to contemporary struggles for recognition by treating them not primarily as battles to include (or exclude) new political groups, but as moments where people contest the very terms of political and ethnic identities and their interrelations. In so doing, he re-makes multiculturalism from a crowd-pleasing ideal into a window for interrogating the power plays whereby constructions of identity are by turns invoked and renegotiated. -- Lisa Disch, University of MichiganMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
403 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4744-2266-6 (9781474422666)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Lasse Thomassen is Professor of Politics in the School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London.
Author
Senior Lecturer in the School of Politics and International RelationsQueen Mary, University of London
Content
Acknowledgements Introduction: Identity, Inclusion and Representation
Hegemony, Representation and Britishness
Subjects of Equality
(Not) Just a Piece of Cloth: Recognition and Representation
Tolerance: Circles of Inclusion and Exclusion
Hospitality beyond Good and Bad
Conclusion: Multiculturalism, Britishness and Muscular Liberalism Bibliography Index
Hegemony, Representation and Britishness
Subjects of Equality
(Not) Just a Piece of Cloth: Recognition and Representation
Tolerance: Circles of Inclusion and Exclusion
Hospitality beyond Good and Bad
Conclusion: Multiculturalism, Britishness and Muscular Liberalism Bibliography Index