A Tolerant Nation?
Revisiting Ethnic Diversity in a Devolved Wales
by Paul O’ Leary (Editor), Charlotte Williams (Editor), Neil Evans (Editor)
Description
The population of Wales is the product of successive waves of immigration. During the industrial revolution many diverse groups were attracted into Wales by the economic opportunities it offered – notably Irish people, black and minority ethnic sailors from many parts of the world, and people from continental Europe. More recently, there has been immigration from the New Commonwealth as well as refugees from wars and oppression in several parts of the world. This volume engages with this experience by offering perspectives from historians, sociologists, cultural analysts and social policy experts. It provides analyses of the changing patterns of immigration and their reception including hostile and violent acts. It also considers the way in which Welsh attitudes to minorities have been shaped in the past through the activity of missionaries in the British Empire, and how these have permeated literary perceptions of Wales. In the contemporary world, this diverse population has implications for social policy which are explored in a number of contexts, including in rural Wales. The achievements of minorities in sport and in building a multi-racial community in Butetown, for instance, which is now writing its own history, are recognised. The first edition of this book was widely welcomed as the essential work on the topic; over a decade later much has changed and the volume responds with several new chapters and extensive revisions that engage the impact of devolution on policy in Wales.
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Rights Information
All ex GB, US, CA
Endorsements
‘The need to keep track of social changes in Wales since devolution has never been greater. This new edition is an excellent contribution to the study of ethnic diversity and multiculturalism from scholars in a variety of disciplines. It goes a long way towards explaining how narratives of nationality in Wales are accommodating to the fact of ethnic diversity. Devolved government in Wales has opened up new avenues for policy which diverge from those elsewhere in the rest of the United Kingdom. This fascinating book clearly shows how myth, history, demographic change and global influences all play a part in shaping the project of “a tolerant Welsh nation”.’
- Professor Howard Davis, School of Social Sciences, Bangor University
‘At a time when racism is increasing across the United Kingdom and more widely, this book provides a welcome counterpart in arguing for tolerance between majority and minority populations. Focused on the experience of minorities in Wales, it provides both historical and contemporary insights and, particularly useful, a glimpse of what life is like for the growing minority population in rural areas. It is a pathbreaking and important book.’
- Professor Gary Craig, Durham University
University of Wales Press
University of Wales Press believes in supporting and disseminating scholarship from and about Wales to a worldwide audience. They mainly publish books in the humanities, arts and sciences.
View all titlesBibliographic Information
- Publisher University of Wales Press
- Publication Date March 2015
- Orginal LanguageEnglish
- ISBN/Identifier 9781783161881
- Publication Country or regionUnited Kingdom
- FormatPaperback
- Primary Price 29.99 GBP
- Pages320
- Publish StatusPublished
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