Racism without racists: Colour-blind ideology in post-Brexit Britain

Those who are ‘ideologically colour-blind’ do not express explicitly negative views of racial minorities but instead reject the argument that racial discrimination is a significant social problem (Bonilla-Silva 2003). In the UK, it has been shown that this ideology is as widespread among white voters as it is in the US, with previous research indicating that few racial minorities will subscribe to colour blindness.

In this seminar, Maria Sobolewska, Professor of Political Science, will present the design and findings of a study demonstrating that both white voters and voters of ethnic minority backgrounds can hold colour-blind views, and that these views shape their political attitudes in similar ways.

Maria will also examine how colour-blind attitudes correlate with political views and racial attitudes, and whether it predicts discriminatory behaviour to policies aimed at addressing race inequality, and political choice.

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COMPAS Seminar Series Hilary Term 2026

Theme: ‘The Politics of Immigration and Exclusion’

The seminars will be given at 3.45pm on Thursdays, online on Zoom and in The Hub, Kellogg College (Week 1), The Nissan Lecture Theatre at St Antony’s College (Weeks 3 and 5) and in the Mawby Room at Kellogg College (Week 7). Convened by Sanne van Oosten.

The debate and politics surrounding immigration have become increasingly polarised. Within this context, how do Western democratic societies grapple with rising nativism, exclusionary ideologies, and structural discrimination?

In this hybrid seminar series, leading scholars of political behaviour, race and ethnicity, gendered politics, and inequality will examine the causes and consequences of exclusionary politics and discriminatory structures, and discuss the interventions required to challenge them.

Over the course of the series, speakers will explore a range of topics, including:

The dilemmas facing mainstream social democratic political parties responding to pressures from the radical right, with a focus on the UK; The prevalence and political consequences of colour-blind attitudes in the UK; How gendered anti-immigration narratives gain and lose traction; How discrimination shapes opportunities across the life course, from employment and housing to childcare, and continues to reproduce inequalities across generations.

Attendance is free, and all are welcome. This series will be hybrid: there is one Zoom registration link you can use to attend one or more of the sessions. You do not need to register to join in person.