Managing race relations’ te nsions in multicultural societies: a case study of Bradford in Britain

Abstract

Multiculturalism has become a tricky issue in major western societies; there have been many demands to either stifle multicultural propensities or tailor them to the needs of host societies. The increasing civil disturbances and social instabilities alarmed respective western governments to advance alternative neo-assimilationist discourses and strategies that background multicultural narratives while foreground social “cohes ionist” ones. This artic le scrutinizes the situation of the race relations in contemporary Britain with a special focus on 2001 race riots. The locality of Bradford is selected as a case study. This choice is enhanced by the fact that Bradford is one of the most multi-ethnic and multicultural cities in Britain. Moreover, it witnessed the worst race-related riots in contemporary Britain.