ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses spontaneous protest, organised representation, and participation within the party and electoral Systems by African Caribbeans and Asians who are the two largest and most salient new minority ethnic groups in Britain. No account is taken of the activities of new white minority ethnic groups (Cypriots, Greeks, Italians, Maltese, Poles, Turks, Ukrainians and others), nor of the Chinese and Vietnamese Asian communities. Individuais from new white groups, such as Michael Portillo or Michael Howard, have been able to participate in national politics with little or no attention to their ethnic origins. But this is an Option that is unavailable to individuals from nearly all African Caribbean and Asian groups. The Chinese and Vietnamese communities may become more visible particularly if sizeable migration from Hong Kong occurs after the island reverts to China in 1997, but for the moment while they do participate in politics their participation is less visible than is the case with African Caribbean and Asian communities. Indeed, political participation in these communities may be understood in terms of Milbrath's (1965) distinctions between gladiatorial activities (holding public or party office, becoming a candidate for such office, seeking funds for the party, taking part in strategy meetings and spending time on campaigning), transitional activities (attendance at public meetings or rallies, contributing money and getting in touch with an official or party leader), and spectator activities (wearing a button or sticker, trying to influence others to vote in a particular way, starting a political discussion, voting, exposing oneself to political Stimuli). But dramatic and promising as the active participation of individuals from these two sets of communities in the nation's political life has been, there is still some way to go before participation assumes the regular presence of black and brown Britons in the corridors of power at Whitehall and Westminster. If, however, the notion of Britain as a multicultural society is to be taken seriously, then the active political participation of people from all segments of society must become as much a reality as their participation has been in other areas of national life such as sports, entertainment and business.
