Bradford Riots - Plural, Elite, and Marxian Model - Coursework Example

Bradford July 2001: England had seen a spate of racial riots in the year 1950’s (Fryer, 1984 & Ramdin, 1987), and this was once again repeated in the year 2001.The riots of the 1950s involved the Whites and African Carribeans while the riots of 2001 involved Whites and South Asians. Ray and Smith, 2002, have stated that the riots of the year 2001, was linked to more than four factors. The four main factors were unemployment and poverty that existed in city areas leading to a sense of disillusionment, long periods of mistrust with the police force and a resultant increase in racial violence, and the growth of certain groups that can be termed as far right groups. The main context was the attack on Asian men and women in the City centre in Bradford, the banned march of right wing, closing of the final day of city’s annual multi-cultural festival. Various sources of crime and conviction have come out but the reliable source has been provided by The data from the Census of Population 2001, ONS. The sources include, age, ethnic orgins, status of employment, place of residence. 90% of those arrested in aspect of riot were South Asian, mainly from Pakistan. The majority of those arrested were unemployed.80% of those arrested were from inner areas of Bradford .The data from the Census of Population 2001, ONS showed that more than 80% of the people living in Bradford belonged to white ethnic group and 14 % of the people belonged to Pakistan. Census of Population 2001, ONS, also showed that 60% believed in Christian religion and 16 % were followers of Muslim in the riot affected area. The south Asians sentenced for offence were spread in all age groups: below 21 and above 21 as per the data presented on Bradford Telegraph and Argus. What the Bradford riot did was to express a feeling of labour racism (Hasan, 2000) and other new modes of ‘racilistion’(Lea, J, & Young, J,1982) The questions that the different theoretical frameworks encourage to ask about the Bradford ‘riots’ Going into the history and context of Bradford riots of 2001 and based on the three models of politics, we can safely generate a set of questions. The three models that are in discussion are Plural, Elite, and Marxian model. 1) How to create employment opportunities for younger generation from all class including minority ethnic groups from South Asia? 2) Which model of development is suitable for bigger job creation in the area: Public under the government or the private ? 3) How to create better educational facilities in Bradford area? 4) How to attract the younger generation from the South Asians in the Bradford area to the stream of education? 5) How to minimize the problem of race differences in labour? 6) How to increase the community interaction between different ethnic groups? 7) How to work out a model that eliminates racial differences, racial prejudices ? 8) What was the nature of the people of a group involved in a riot? for example, the role of older generation compared with younger generation? 9) Which model of economy can solve the differences in Bardford? 10) Were riots an expression of alienation? 11) Which model will ensure that the aims of fascist will be defeated? 12) What should be done by the police to win the trust of everyone? 13) How to avoid fragmentation of people based on community? 14) How to accept immigrants into mainstream? All the above questions should be pursued successfully. For understanding the need of the above questions, the context of the riot should be understood more. Liz Smith, 2001, has stated that Bradford was the worst affected area by riots in England in the last two decades .In this article, the role of two fascist parties in the form of National front and British Nationalist Party was highlighted. Minority groups have less trust on the police and that was taken to advantage by the National Front supporters when they started shouting racial comments on a minority group meeting and that gave the spark for the riot to begin. According to eyewitness as stated by Liz Smith, 2001, the main rioters were youth of both ethnic groups .A section of youth have no belief in politics and police thus making the role of fascists much easier. Liz Smith, 2001, also states that the government model of economy of pumping in more money into these areas has not solved the issue of unemployment as the traditional manufacturing textile units have closed down. There have been allegations raised by National Front that South Asians have received preferential treatment under multi cultural initiative. Liz Smith, 2001, also states that the government has not taken initiatives to remove poverty and has curbed demonstrations in belief that the racial outfits will not have any advantage. The role played by media, government, and media has strengthened the role played by fascists and that has to be changed as fast as possible. The government is planning to give sweeping powers to the police in hope that the fascists will be tracked down more effectively. The role of another model is to effectively curb the growth of fascists with iron hand governance. It is against these backgrounds that the above questions were framed. A solution to these questions has to be answered using the three models. The Marxian Model William Domhoff, 2005, states that the Marxian models is a huge critic of capitalist theory and forward the theory of class. The world is divided into two different parts namely working class and non working class. The Marxian model proposes a society where the division between the people based on economy are bought to minimum. William Domhoff, 2005, also adds that the Marxian model goes to the other extreme of religion when it propagates a society with more scientific inclination. Multiculturalism has been the strongest factor in preventing racism. The highlight of Marxian model in giving a solution to Bradford area can be described as the ability to try and minimize the differences between classes. An economic model in which various groups of Bradford area can lay claim can bring more success. For example, a cooperative model of economy where locals are given jobs in such a way that bias is avoided can reduce the grievances on both sides. Marxian model of public sector should be initiated to reopen the manufacturing textile units which are closed and bringing in more jobs. William Domhoff, 2005, in his article of Marxian critique adds that the disregard for democracy from Marxian point of view is another problem,.Securalism should come back stronger to prevent the youth from following a militant path. This is one another area where the Marxian model falls short as they do put forward a more scientific model that moves away from religious model. Elite Model In the article titled ‘Unrest shows the need to resist the elite agenda’, 2005, says that the elite model comes out with a stranger theory of making multiculturalism as the main cause of riots. The model falls short in its quest to close divisions and ends up creating more divisions. The decision of Muslims not being allowed to wear headscarves when going to school did create a division among Muslims. The article titled ‘Unrest shows the need to resist the elite agenda’,2005 ,also adds that elite model consider immigrants as threats and the model is not ready to acknowledge the way younger generation of immigrants see their role in Britain. The younger generation would like to be accepted as a part of Britain and not seen as racists or immigrants whom they deem as not part of Britain culture. The article titled ‘Unrest shows the need to resist the elite agenda’, 2005, also adds that neo-liberal capitalism, has crushed the lives of everyone except some of the elite. The third model that has to be discussed in detail is the Plural model , which gives the theory of multi power .This model as stated by Burlet, S,& Reid, H, shows that minority groups can become power centre but will not be given too much decision making power in the country. The tag of immigrants will be a deterent in giving more decision making powers to this group leading to an explosive situation of these groups being influenced by militants. These three models are not enough to solve all the problems and what is needed is a bold attempt that allows the mixing of younger generation, a bold step that takes tough step against fanaticism without any inhibitions and making sure that the immigrants and natives stays together to chart out a stronger Britain. References Burlet, S,& Reid, H, 1998, 'A gendered uprising: political representation and minority ethnic communities', Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol 21(2),pp.270-87. Fryer, P,’ 1984’,’ Staying Power: the history of black people in Britain’, Pluto Press & Ramdin, R,1987, ‘The Making of The Black Working Class in Britain’, Aldershot Hasan, R, 2000 'Riots and urban unrest in Britain in the 1980s and 1990s: A critique of dominant explanations', in Class Struggle and Social Welfare, Routledge, London. Lea, J, & Young, J, 1982, 'Urban violence and political marginalization: the riots in Britain: summer 1981', Critical Social Policy, Vol1( 3),pp. 59-69. Liz Smith,2001,’Britain: Bradford is fourth city hit by riots’, viewed on April 16,2009. (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/jul2001/brad-j10.shtml) Ray, L, & Smith, D, 2002 ,’Racist Offending, Policing and Community Conflict’, paper presented to the British Sociological Association Conference. William Domhoff,2005,’A Critique of Marxism’,viewed on April 16,2009. (http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/theory/marxism.html critique of marxism) William Domhoff,2005,’Alternative Theoretical Views’,viewed on April 16,2009. (http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/theory/alternative_theories.html) 2005,’Unrest shows the need to resist the elite’s agenda’ ,viewed on April 16,2009 (http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=7748) Statistics Census of Population 2001, ONS NewsPaper Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Read More