Communities, Networks and Ethnic Politics

First Published in 1998, this study explores ethnic community political participation in local politics in the North West British town. The analysis is located within the framework of the shift from Fordism to post-Fordism.From 1965 to 1980 ethnic communities increased their access to scarce resources including political influence by engaging in ethnic politics. Using membership of religious organisations as structures of support, elected men deployed ethnic identities to compete with others for ethnic support and influence over local decision-making processes. This gave ethnic minorities a positive role in local politics. With the support of local community relations councils (CRCs), ethnic politics flourished. It gave ethnic communities real opportunities to participate as ethnic communities in politics. Using local events, ethnic leaders competed for political influence and ethnic support. After 1977 the shift from Fordism to post-Fordism brought about a decline in ethnic political participation. While conferment of citizenship secured their right to stay in Britain, the rise in consumerism undermined the manufacturing sector on which they depended for work. With no ethnic political identity, today, these communities are again politically disadvantaged.