ABSTRACT
This chapter argues for the renewal within social science of a form of policy-related work, but one which differs in certain significant respects from the research of Rose and his associates. A whole range of sociological terms, e.g. ethnic group, ethnic minority, minority, plural segment, caste, and, most recently, ethnicity, have each been employed to designate a reality that is said to belie the mythical race label. Discrimination is the mechanism through which such groups are accorded unequal and inferior treatment. This can take a number of different forms and become embedded in a number of institutional contexts, e.g. work, housing, education, law. The notion of ‘relative autonomy’ has made a useful though limited contribution to this shift in emphasis. Research at levels suggested permits the identification of new issues and the construction of new categories to which governments, local authorities and local community and pressure groups might eventually respond in terms of the reformulation of existing policies and demands.
