Devolution, multicultural citizenship and race equality: From laissez-faire to nationally responsible policies

Abstract

The devolved nations of the UK have been constituted on the basis of the ambition to increase inclusiveness and democratic involvement, underpinned by specific equality duties. As such they represent a critical point of reference for ethnic minorities in securing recognition, rights and representation in core social policy fields that shape their lived experiences of welfare. These newly established policy territories offer a testbed for tracking the development of multicultural citizenship and race equality and for assessing the extent to which the social policy of the constituent nations is responsive to the needs of ethnic minorities. This paper explores these concerns within the context of Welsh and Scottish devolution. Drawing on a range of research data it argues that devolution represents a significant shift from a laissez-faire politics of race to an agenda of nationally responsible policies but this trajectory raises not only a number of questions about the nature, extent and impact of minority inclusion within the nations but encroaches on issues of racialized welfare identities and rights within the wider hegemony of British multicultural citizenship.