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Racism
can be defined as "an ideological construct that assigns a
certain race an/or ethnic groups to a position of power over others
on the basis of physical and cultural attributes, as well as economic
domination and control over others."(1)
Racism
and xenophobia
often overlap, but are distinct phenomena. Whereas racism usually
entails distinction based on physical characteristic differences,
such as skin colour, hair type, facial features, etc, xenophobia
implies behaviour based on the idea that the other is foreign to
or originates from outside the community or nation.(2)
Racism
can be defined as doctrine of or belief in racial superiority. This
includes the belief that race determines intelligence, cultural
characteristics and moral attitudes. Racism includes both racial
prejudice and racial
discrimination. Further, it is employed to describe social
systems that systematically discriminate against given racial categories.
'Institutionalised racism' is sometimes used to refer to the social
structural aspect of racism and the way that specific racial prejudice
and stereotypes are incorporated into legal, administrative and
social systems. It may be analysed as a product of class interests
and class ideology.
At
an international level, institutional racism may be considered as
a product of colonialist and imperialist strategies. These strategies
employ racism as an important element in the justification and maintenance
of relations of exploitation and unequal exchange with subordinate
populations who happen to be physically different. Research of racism
stress that the rise and fall of racial stereotypes and racial prejudice
is closely linked to the changing historical relations between different
populations and to the interests of dominant groups.(3)
(1)
Declaration on Racism, discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance against Migrants and Trafficked Persons. Asia-Pacific
NGO Meeting for the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. Teheran, Iran. 18 February 2001.
(2)
NGO Working Group on Migration and Xenophobia for the World Conference.
In International Migration, Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia,
2001. A publication jointly produced by ILO, IOM, OHCHR, in consultation
with UNHCR.
(3)
Seymour-Smith, C. 1986. Macmillan Dictionary of Anthropology. The
Macmillan Press. LTD
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