Canadian Race Relations Foundation

This book focuses on the theoretical underpinnings of the concept of racism. The author suggests what is traditionally understood to be 'racism,' actually has no theoretical basis in conceptions of 'race' or colonialism. Although most theorists accept that the definition of racism is no longer valid, that there is no definable concept of race, the tendency is to explain 'racism' in terms of colonialism or colour. Miles rejects both of these definitions, and instead demonstrates how 'racism' was pervasive in pre-colonial times, and that 'racism' was perpetuated against those who can not be defined as a 'race' through their physical features. Through this theoretical study, Miles attempts to reconcile the idea of 'racism' with Marxist theory, through an analysis of migration theory, nation states, and European history. The end result of this study is an understanding of the interrelationship between migration, nationalism and racism.

'Adam Garde had never quite bought the fantasy Oskar had been pushing all evening. For Hitler was more than a man: he was a system with ramifications. Even if he died, it was no guarantee the system would alter its character. Besides, it was not in the nature of a phenomenon such as Hitler to perish in the space of an evening.' (p.1; Keneally, 1986) The scientific and political critique of fascists ideologies that results in the creation of the concept of racism was not accompanied by a consistent rejection of either the idea of race or the belief that the human population was divided into biologically distinct 'races' (p.29)