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The study of race has been an important feature in British universities for over a hundred years. During this time, academic understanding of what race describes and means has changed and developed as has the purpose of racial study. Once considered the preserve of biologists and physical anthropologists, over the course of the last century the study of race has transferred mostly into social scientific disciplines such as sociology. This book explores this passing of authority on racial matters in the context of international and domestic political issues.In a period which spans the rise and fall of Nazism, the onset of the Cold War, the birth of Apartheid and the death of legal US segregation, Racial Science and British Society, 1930-62 considers the relationship between science, politics and ideology, arguing that racial scholarship in Britain was shaped in every period by factors outside of science. At the same time it argues that it is possible to see the influence of expert racial scholarship in every significant action of government immigration policy during this period. This major new study of Twentieth-century Britain calls into question the impact of racial ideas on British society and probes into the nature of knowledge production in science.
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Racial Science and British Society, 1930–62 Gavin Schaffer Racial Science and British Society, 1930–62 This page intentionally left blank Racial Science and British Society, 1930–62 Gavin Schaffer © Gavin Schaffer 2008 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2008 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of St Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN-13: 978–0–230–00892–2 hardback ISBN-10: 0–230–00892–5 hardback This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Schaffer, Gavin, 1976– Racial science and British society, 1930–1962 / Gavin Schaffer. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-10: 0–230–00892–5 (alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978–0–230–00892–2 1. Great Britain–Race relations–History–20th century. 2. Racism–Great Britain–History–20th century. 3. Great Britain–Politics and government– 20th century. 4. World War, 1939–1945–Social aspects–Great Britain. 5. Great Britain–Social policy. I. Title. DA125.A1S33 2008 305.800941’09041–dc22 2008016150 10 17 9 16 8 15 7 14 6 13 5 12 4 11 3 10