Ethnic, Racial and Religious Inequalities: The Perils of Subjectivity

This book examines the growing interest in religion among academics, politicians, law and policy makers, and practitioners in the West, particularly in Britain and the European Union. Using an extensive body of research from a range of national and international sources, the authors challenge a number of the most basic assumptions that underpin this turn to religion. These include: the belief that religion is currently enjoying a global resurgence, while the process of secularisation is declining; and that discrimination and prejudice based on religion is so widespread in Western Europe that it is necessary to implement legal measures to protect against it; and that religion is such a central component of minority ethnic identity as to justify the British government's redefinition of ethnic groups as `faith communities' and the French Government's reassertion of secularism.

The authors analyse some of the reasons for the gap between perception and reality and assess the potential consequences for both minorities and majorities of what they term an `ideology of inequality'.

Marie Macey is Senior Lecturer in Sociology in the School of Social and International Studies at the University of Bradford, UK. Her teaching and research are in the area of equalities, particularly in relation to race and racism, and ethnicity, gender and religion. She has an extensive publications record on these topics in academic and policy/practice journals. She is author of Multiculturalism, Religion and Women
Alan Carling is Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Sociology in the School of Social and International Studies at the University of Bradford, UK. He has published widely in the areas of social inequality and political philosophy. He is active in various community initiatives in Bradford, and previously served as chair of the Programme for a Peaceful City at the University of Bradford.