Intellectual Focus
The social, cultural and governmental aspects of colonial and postcolonial societies. Nationalism, challenges and transformations in geo-politics, governance and citizenship in an era characterized by migration, flight, asylum, multiculture, cultural hybridity, cosmopolitanism and supposed 'civilisational' conflict.
This cluster has strong interests in comparative research especially involving Brazil, South Africa and the United States. Currently key research themes are the optimum social, cultural and economic conditions for sustainable "multiculturalism"; the significance of race in colonial government, particularly war, law and states of emergency; the relationship between cultural plurality and security; historical study of connections between race and ethnography; the impacts of synthetic biology and molecularisation on racial discourses and identities.
Key members of cluster
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Paul Gilroy, Anthony Giddens Professor of Social Theory: Racism and nationalism, Multiculture, diasporas, colonial government, popular culture.
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Claire Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Sociology: Youth, masculinity and identity in Britain; Asian/Muslim communities; popular culture, race and ethnography, conflict resolution, community, friendship and violence in relation to gang cultures,.
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Suki Ali, Lecturer in Sociology: racialisation and embodiment, mixedness, theorising intersectionality and identification, families and kinship, visual culture
Esteem
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Gilroy: D.Sc Honoris Causa, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 2005; Tate Gallery Council 2006. Editorial boards: Senses and Society, Atlantic Studies, Philosophia Africana; Wellek Memorial Lectures, University of California, Irvine 2002; Du Bois Lectures, Harvard University 2006; Lacay Lecture, Georgetown University 2006; Fábrica de Idéias Centro de Estudos Afro-orientais Universidade Federal da Bahia 2006.
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Alexander: Editorial Boards: Ethnic and Racial Studies. Has served as a guest Editor of Ethnic and Racial Studies, Feminist Review and Cultural Studies. Runnymede Trust - Board of Trustees 2005-; Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2004/6; Victim Support - Advisory Board for Hate Crime Research project 2005-. Keynote Speaker: UC Santa Barbara, CUNY Graduate Centre, European Commission, Leeds Community and Mental Health Services, South Asian Popular Culture, ESRC Identities Programme.
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Ali: Member of the Advisory Committee for Joseph Rowntree Project 'Siblings' 2002-4. Member of Executive Committee of Feminist and Women's Studies Association (Development Co-ordinator) 2005 -. Book Review Editor of the British Journal of Sociology.
Linked Masters Programme
Work in this area is related to the development of the new Masters programme in Race, Ethnicity and Postcolonial Studies.
Doctoral students
We are currently developing a doctoral programme in this area.
Funded Research
Alexander: 2002-4: Access to services with Interpreters: User Views (with Ros Edwards & Bogusia Temple), Joseph Rowntree Foundation (£94,000) Bradford City Council (with Ros Edwards & Simon Duncan) (£6,200)
Future strategy
A major initiative of research is under development in this area. With regard to outreach, this initiative includes the Hobhouse programme of seminars and lectures. Conferences and applications for research funding are also planned.
We have also been working towards the establishment of an LSE race and multiculture group which will aim to draw together work being done in these fields in various parts of the institution.