Rural Racism

This timely collection addresses the frequently overlooked issue of rural racism, providing a comprehensive overview of what is a multi-faceted and hitherto under-researched problem. Popular constructions of rurality have perpetuated imagery of idyllic, problem-free environments that have largely masked the process of 'othering' that works to marginalise particular groups from mainstream rural society. For minority ethnic communities this 'othering process' can be tinged with racist harassment, hate and violence that can have serious implications for their sense of belonging in the rural. This book aims to provide new insights on issues that are belatedly receiving recognition at a national and local level. It seeks to conceptualise rurality and the way in which the experiences of 'others' fit within the broader rural context, and examines the different forms that racism can take in the countryside. In addition to charting the particular dynamics of racism and rurality, the book highlights the importance of developing sustainable responses to the problem of rural racism and discusses ways in which prejudice can be challenged within environments typically unfamiliar with 'difference'. The book will appeal to a wide audience of academics, students and practitioners with an interest in contemporary debates surrounding racism, rurality, identity and community.