The latest Innovations in Public Policy article comes from Dr Temidayo Eseonu (Lecturer in Politics and Policy at Lancaster University).
The persistence of racial inequality in England remains a pressing concern, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which magnified longstanding disparities across economic, health and social outcomes. Yet, despite this stark reality, the English Devolution White Paper published in December 2024 makes no reference to race or racism. This omission points to a critical gap in the current policy framework: the need for a concerted effort to embed racial equity into the institutional processes and structures driving English devolution.
This paper introduces the concept of anti-racist institutionalism as both an analytical lens and a policy approach. It highlights how institutions - understood not merely as organisations, but as configurations of rules, practices and narratives - can entrench or challenge racial inequalities. Through this lens, the paper explores how English devolution offers an opportunity to actively transform racialised institutions. It argues that if regional governance is to be effective and inclusive, it must confront and address the structural dynamics that marginalise racially minoritised communities.
Anti-racist institutionalism [PDF 0.2MB]
Temidayo’s article on Anti-Racist Institutionalism published in Social Policy & Administration can be read here: https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.13116
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