TY - JOUR

T1 - Conceptualising Anti‐Racist Institutionalism

AU - Eseonu, Temidayo

PY - 2025/1/5

Y1 - 2025/1/5

N2 - Discussions on race, institutions and public administration in scholarly literature have largely originated from a US context; this article argues that new institutionalism needs a race lens outside of this context, allowing for analyses of how institutions can be implicated in the (re)production of racial inequalities in countries with racial regimes. This article suggests focusing on the mechanics of racialisation to understand how racial inequalities are (re)produced. This article makes two theoretical propositions: institutions, as sets of narratives, practices and rules, are racialised, and these institutions can be transformed in pursuit of racial equity. Using qualitative data from a case study of a UK local government's employment service, an expanded theoretical strand of new institutionalism is proposed: anti‐racist institutionalism. This research provides illustrative examples of racialised narratives, and colour‐blind practices and rules such as budgets and performance management measures can have racialised outcomes. Further research is required to understand what institutional change is required to transform these racialised institutions in pursuit of racial equity.

AB - Discussions on race, institutions and public administration in scholarly literature have largely originated from a US context; this article argues that new institutionalism needs a race lens outside of this context, allowing for analyses of how institutions can be implicated in the (re)production of racial inequalities in countries with racial regimes. This article suggests focusing on the mechanics of racialisation to understand how racial inequalities are (re)produced. This article makes two theoretical propositions: institutions, as sets of narratives, practices and rules, are racialised, and these institutions can be transformed in pursuit of racial equity. Using qualitative data from a case study of a UK local government's employment service, an expanded theoretical strand of new institutionalism is proposed: anti‐racist institutionalism. This research provides illustrative examples of racialised narratives, and colour‐blind practices and rules such as budgets and performance management measures can have racialised outcomes. Further research is required to understand what institutional change is required to transform these racialised institutions in pursuit of racial equity.

KW - new institutionalism

KW - local government

KW - racialisation

KW - racial equity

KW - race

U2 - 10.1111/spol.13116

DO - 10.1111/spol.13116

M3 - Journal article

JO - Social Policy and Administration

JF - Social Policy and Administration

SN - 0144-5596

ER -