Exploring the Ambivalence of Liquid Racism: In between antiracist and racist discourse

The migration 'crisis in European countries (2015 to date) has fostered different stances and practices, including xenophobia and solidarity. This volume explores how racist views infiltrate discourse intended as antiracist, with critical and pragmatic analyses of texts from various sources. It is an outcome of the research project "TRACE: Tracing Racism in Anti-raCist discoursE: A critical approach to European public speech on the migrant and refugee crisis" (HFRI-FM17-42, HFRI 2019-2022, Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation).

Format: Hardback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2024
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Co

The ongoing migration 'crisis in European countries (2015 to date) has fostered diverse stances and practices within European nation-states, ranging from xenophobia to solidarity. In this complex context, two contradictory discourses seem to coexist: the national racist discourse and the humanitarian, antiracist one. This volume aims to shed light on the emergence of liquid racism, a phenomenon characterized by ambiguities and contradictory interpretations due to the infiltration of racist views into discourse intended as antiracist.

To achieve this, the volume brings together a collection of studies that investigate diverse semiotic strategies through which liquid racism manifests. These strategies involve the use of ambiguous language, double meanings, and rhetorical devices that create confusion and undermine the intended antiracist message. The studies analyze texts from various sources, including news articles, parliamentary discourse, political cartoons, video clips, advertising campaigns based on personal stories, and jokes.

The volume is the result of the research project "TRACE: Tracing Racism in Anti-raCist discoursE: A critical approach to European public speech on the migrant and refugee crisis" (HFRI-FM17-42, HFRI 2019-2022, Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation). The project aimed to critically examine the public discourse on the migrant and refugee crisis in Europe and explore the ways in which racism manifests and circulates in anti-racist discourses.

The chapters in the volume offer critical and pragmatic analyses of the texts analyzed. They explore the ways in which liquid racism is perpetuated through language, imagery, and narrative structures, and how it contributes to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and discrimination. The authors also examine the challenges faced by individuals and communities who are targeted by liquid racism and the strategies they employ to resist and challenge it.

In conclusion, the volume "Liquid Racism: Ambiguities and Contradictions in Anti-racist Discourse" provides a valuable contribution to the study of racism and anti-racism in Europe. It sheds light on the complex dynamics between nationalistic ideologies and humanitarian values, and highlights the need for a more nuanced and critical approach to understanding and addressing the challenges posed by migration and refugee crises. By examining the semiotic strategies through which liquid racism emerges, the volume contributes to the development of effective countermeasures to combat racism and promote inclusive societies.

Weight: 680g
Dimension: 245 x 164 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789027214539