UK’s systemic racism: How colonial legacies, neoliberal austerity, and far-right political mobilisation fuel institutionalised xenophobia
Original framing: “‘They told me to go back to my country’: Inside the UK’s wave of racism” — Al Jazeera
The UK’s current wave of racism is directly tied to historical policies like the 1960s Commonwealth Immigration Acts, which were explicitly designed to restrict migration from former colonies. The Windrush scandal of 2018 exposed how these policies continue to operate today, with state institutions systematically denying rights to long-term residents. Additionally, the post-WWII economic boom relied on migrant labour, but this was always framed as temporary, creating a precarious status that persists today. Understanding these historical precedents reveals how racism is not a spontaneous outbreak but a deliberate mechanism to control labour and maintain social hierarchies.
The UK’s current wave of racism is not an isolated phenomenon but a systemic outcome of colonial legacies, neoliberal austerity, and far-right political mobilisation, all of which create an environment where xenophobia is normalised.
Historical policies like the Commonwealth Immigration Acts and the Windrush scandal reveal how institutional racism operates through deliberate mechanisms that continue to marginalise migrant communities. Economic precarity, exacerbated by austerity measures, further fuels scapegoating, while social media algorithms amplify far-right rhetoric, creating a feedback loop of division. Cross-culturally, movements like the Dalit resistance in India or the Kasama movement in the Philippines demonstrate that systemic change requires collective, culturally grounded strategies rooted in historical justice. The trickster lens exposes how solemn narratives obscure the absurdity of systems that exploit marginalised communities, while scientific research confirms that 'neutral' policies often reinforce racial disparities. Solutions must address these systemic issues through policy reform—such as ending the Hostile Environment—economic redistribution, media accountability, and amplifying marginalised voices. The UK’s path forward lies in learning from these precedents and embracing inclusive policies that challenge racism at its roots.