The Postracial Contemporary

Abstract

What can be said of the state of race? Or more specifically what can be said about the nature of the contemporary racial state and its expression of racisms in a conjuncture which declares racism is a relic? Grappling with claims to the 'postracial' in the context of an advanced neoliberal political economy which pursues heightened securitization and militarization of society like never before, this collection reflects on forms of racism at the beginning of the 21st Century, centering on the role of the state. Focusing largely on the British racial state the contributions consider theoretical issues such as the nature of postraciality, racial neoliberalism, the state of multiculturalism and whiteness, alongside the functioning of state institutions and policy concerning the military, education, community surveillance, asylum and extradition.