W. E. B. DuBois wrote in 1903 that `the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the colour line - the relation of the darker to the lighter races in Asia and Africa, in America and in the islands of the sea'. As the century draws to its close, this remains true; if anything the salience of race and racism in all its manifestations has grown in the recent past. The last few years have witnessed a growth in academic interest in racism, and in related issues such as nationalism and ethnicity, as well as an increasing general awareness of various kinds of racial conflict and violence in a range of countries and regions across the globe. This Reader provides a critical overview of the historical development and contemporary forms of racist ideas and institutions. It brings together material from different theoretical perspectives in an attempt to make sense of the way in which racism has exerted such a powerful influence on the history of humanity.

About the Author
Martin Bulmer is Foundation Fund Professor of Sociology at the University of Surrey. He is the editor of Ethnic and Racial Studies, in which he has been involved since 1988. His most recent book is Citizenship Today, edited with Tony Rees (1996) and he is Academic Director of the Question Bank, part of the ESRC Centre for Applied Social Surveys, established in 1995. He has wide experience of editing and publishing in British social science, and previously held a social policy appointment at LSE for 17 years, where he taught the main undergraduate course in race and ethnic relations for many years. John Solomos is now Professor of Sociology at South Bank University. Prior to this he was Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Southampton, before which he was Reader in Public Policy, Birkbeck College, London, and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Research on Ethnic Relations, University of Warwick.

Reviews
There is a strong sense of narrative and connected discussion, while many of the pieces have such individual strenghths and independence of voice that they are likely to encourage further reading. The result is a substantial collection that can be used for teaching or research. * Roy Todd Trinity and All Saint's College, University of Leeds, Sociology 35/1 *
This wide- ranging and interesting book will serve as an excellent resource for courses which cover racism and will be a stimulus to further work * Roy Todd Trinity and All Saint's College, University of Leeds, Sociology 35/1 *
This collection offers the breadth of scholarship and strength of continuing debates about racism within sociology. It also prompts thoughts about gaps in our understanding, agendas for future research and issues to raise with our students. * Roy Todd Trinity and All Saint's College, University of Leeds, Soiology 35/1 *
This is altogether a.. comprehensive and ambitious volume.. much of the text is devoted to the structure and politics of race and ethnic relations seen from a comparative and historical perspective. * Ethical and Racial Studies Vol 24 No 3. *
It is a broad- based, comparative and historical analysis of the field containing a representative sample of the most serious scholarship on race and ethnic relations. Both the editors'general introduction to the reader and their section introduction are informative and concise. * Ethical and Racial Studies Vol 24 No 3. *
They have done an excellent job in trying to introduce the student to the complex and ubiquitous nature of global racism. * Ethical and Racial Studies Vol 24 No 3. *



Book Information
ISBN 9780192893000
Author Martin Bulmer
Format Paperback
Page Count 476
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 684g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 25mm