Racism, a Threat to Global Peace

In: International journal of peace studies, Band 8, Heft 2, S. 45-66

Abstract

Nowadays war is more & more framed in terms of ethnic conflict. This makes the knowledge & understanding of racism a key issue, also for peace studies & the peace movement. This article discusses historical & theoretical dimensions of racism. Racism is defined as a complex, multifaceted, contradictory, & historically specific system of domination &/or exclusion that produces social inequality between the majority population & (ethnic) minorities. This system is (re)produced by the social practices of dominant groups, including their discourse, & by shared social representations. The essay equally discusses prejudice as the attitude underlying racism & the social psychological process of stigmatization. Major domains of expression & the articulation of racism with other mechanisms of domination & exclusion such as sexism are examined too. The author argues that where racist discourses penetrate the remote corners of the world, anti-racism & the understanding of this phenomenon cannot stay behind. 91 References. Adapted from the source document.