Episode description

The recent increase in ethnic minority representation in right-wing, conservative parties has been of note. In this episode, Neema Begum, Michael Bankole, Dan Godshaw and Rima Saini discuss how this substantive representation for ethnic minorities is challenged by ethnic minority politicians on the political right pushing for anti-immigration policies while denouncing anti-racism.

This episode is based on findings from a forthcoming article:

Skinfolk, but not kinfolk? Paradoxical representation among ethnic minority conservative political elites in the UK

The recent increase in ethnic minority representation in right-wing, conservative parties has been of note. Cross-party diversity especially in high office is increasingly the norm. However, whether this signifies substantive representation for ethnic minorities is challenged by ethnic minority politicians on the political right pushing for anti-immigration policies while denouncing anti-racism. The increasing presence of ethnic minorities is no guarantee of racial justice. Instead, we argue some minority politicians can act as ‘post-racial gatekeepers’ pushing the line that race no longer shapes the lives of ethnic minorities today, thereby minimising the existence of racism. They do this by aligning themselves with a ‘model minority’ archetype, but attributing their success to conservative values of hard work and entrepreneurship which they present as having been made possible in a post-racial world where they have transcended racial categories. Rather than representing ethnic minorities substantively, this allows them to advocate for politics that are harmful to most ethnic minorities.

Focusing on the UK and immigration policy, we explain the government’s Illegal Migration Bill, as an example of ethnic minority politicians as ‘post-racial gatekeepers’. The Illegal Migration Bill has been criticised as amounting to a refugee ban and contravening the UK’s human rights obligations. These immigration policies are being formulated by ethnic minority politicians in power who are children or grandchildren of immigrants. Assumptions that ethnic minorities in positions of power will advocate more strongly for ethnic minorities due to shared experiences is subverted by ethnic minority politicians as post-racial gatekeepers. Paradoxically working against rather than for marginalised ethnic minority groups, ethnic minority conservative political elites sustain, rather than disrupt, white supremacist systems of domination.

Authors:

Dr Neema Begum, Assistant Professor in British Politics, University of Nottingham

Dr Rima Saini, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Middlesex University London

Dr Michael Bankole, Lecturer in Politics, Royal Holloway University of London

Dr Dan Godshaw, Lecturer in Criminology, University of Bristol

Dr Shardia Briscoe-Palmer, Assistant Professor in Sociology, University of Nottingham