RS-A | POLITICAL & POLICY FRAMEWORKS
Research question: what are the meanings of ‘race’ and racism and the related understanding of anti-racism that have shaped the work of regional organisations, public bodies and specific state policies, in dialogue/conflict with grassroots movements? Research design: Archival research and document analysis of policy documents, private papers and reports from global and regional organisations and committees, global and regional monitoring agencies (e.g. the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Monitoring; EU Fundamental Rights Agency), national competent bodies (e.g. equality bodies such as the Spanish Council for the Elimination of Racial or Ethnic Discrimination; the Portuguese Commission for Equality and Against Racial Discrimination) and associations working in the field. These materials will be obtained through online research of public databases, contacts with the relevant institutions and through visits to the selected sites.
RS-B | CULTURES OF SCHOLARSHIP & STATE UNIVERSITIES
Research question: what are the main currents and approaches towards the study of racism and colonialism in undergraduate courses in the social sciences and humanities at State universities, and how do debates and changes in the curriculum relate to the relevant political debates in each regional and national context. Research design: Archival research and document analysis: compilation and analysis of current curricula, reading lists and pedagogical guidelines for undergraduate courses in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Identification of controversies and debates regarding approaches, inclusions and absences in teaching practice. Case studies planned: in-depth study of the history of a specific degree in relation to the academic history of the Faculty and University will be carried out in the 4 selected counties. The historicity of the curriculum and pedagogical projects will consider a period of 20 years; this may differ slightly between cases as the specific period of analysis will be established according to the political and institutional context of each university and broader national/regional policies.
RS- C | Institutional racism: Police practice & Mass Media
Research question: what have been the main paths of collective mobilisation and anti-racist struggles developed by grassroots organisations and the socio-legal responses to the experiences of everyday policing and racial profiling, and racist representations in mass media? Research design: Archival research and document analysis: denunciations gathered by competent state bodies, grassroots associations and law enforcement bodies; reports by grassroots associations; media representations: press and TV; publications on social networks and blogs. 8 court cases (2 in each country/urban context): copies of court records; news covering the cases. 8 public issues of denunciation of racist representations in mass media (TV shows in public broadcasting services & private broadcasting networks) (2 in each country). In-depth interviews: with representatives of grassroots movements; victims; legal experts; magistrates; representatives of local government; comedians; journalists; TV producers; academics; representatives of police trade unions (estimated number: 80 inter-views for cases related to police violence (10/each case-study) and 80 interviews for cases related to racist representations in the mass media (10/each case-study); total = 160 interviews).
