![Sample our Politics & International Relations journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5947/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Politics-International-Relations.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
This article explores multicultural politics of ‘anti-racism’ through a detailed and contextualized study of the 1993 March 21 campaign in Canada’s largest federal administrative tribunal, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). I argue that multicultural state politics thwart serious engagement with anti-racist critique, and drastically reconfigure the meanings and consequences of anti-racism. Within multicultural state politics, anti-racism quickly devolves to apolitical recycling of diversity discourses, and benign celebrations of cultural festivities. As I will show, state multiculturalism is a cheap institutional production that heavily relies on the unpaid labour of racialized civil servants, and leaves the status quo largely intact. Ironically, multicultural celebrations of diversity produce novel opportunities for racialization and racial exploitation. While the celebrations go on, relations of racial dominance are reproduced and protected from critique.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 March 21 Pamphlet, 1993, RG 158, Box 7, File 345-11, Volume 1, Administrative and Operational Files of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Immigration and Refugee Board fonds (1977–1992), Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
2 Email from Juan Pedro Unger to Documentation Centre Staff, 23 March1993.
3 RG 158, Box 7, File 345-11, Volume 1, Administrative and Operational Files of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Immigration and Refugee Board fonds (1977–1992), Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
4 Letter from Deputy Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship to IRB Chairperson Nurjehan Mawani, 22 February 1993.
5 Email from Director of Human Resources Planning and Official Languages Gilberte Tardif to Bruce Nellis, 11 February 1993.
6 Special Bulletin: Highlights of Effective Practices for 21 March 1993.
7 Ideas for the Anti-Racism Campaign, 1993.
8 Email from Director of Human Resources Planning and Official Languages Gilberte Tardif to Bruce Nellis, 11 February 1993.
9 Email from Gail Devlin to Suzanne Mayhew, 16 February 1993.
10 Email from Gail Devlin to Suzanne Mayhew, 16 February 1993.
11 Letter from Deputy Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship to IRB Chairperson Nurjehan Mawani, 22 February 1993.
12 Memo from Chairperson Mawani and Executive Director Fyffe to Members and IRB employees, March 1993.
13 Memo from Chairperson Mawani and Executive Director Fyffe to Members and IRB employees, March 1993.
14 Email from Gail Devlin to Suzanne Mayhew, 16 February 1993.
15 Note from George Brimmell to Stephanie McLennan 2 March 1993.
16 Email from Stephanie McLennan to IRB Documentation Centre Staff, 22 March 1993.
17 Email from Gail Devlin to Suzanne Mayhew, 16 February 1993.
18 Email from Gail Devlin to Suzanne Mayhew, 16 February 1993.
19 Memo from Chairperson Mawani and Executive Director Fyffe to Members and IRB employees, March 1993.
20 Week against Racism and Racial Discrimination – Report of Activities, May 1993.
21 Letter from Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada to Federal Departments, 9 February 1993.
22 Memo from Sharon Fleming, Director of Personnel, IRB, 18 March 1993.
23 Letter from Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada to Federal Departments, 9 February 1993.
24 Week against Racism and Racial Discrimination- Report of Activities, May 1993.
25 Email from Regional Director Prairie Region Dave Kornichuk to IRB Calgary Staff, 24 March 1993.
26 Email from Regional Director Prairie Region Dave Kornichuk to IRB Calgary Staff, 24 March 1993.
27 Email from Stephanie McLennan to Documentation Centre Staff, 22 March 1993.
28 Week against Racism and Racial Discrimination – Report of Activities, May 1993.
29 Email from Stephanie McLennan to IRB Documentation Centre Staff, 22 March 1993.
30 Email from Sheila Tenasco to Director of Personnel Sharon Fleming, 16 March 1993.
31 Week against Racism and Racial Discrimination – Report of Activities, May 1993.
32 Email from Human Resources Planning and Official Languages employee Helene Mainville to IRB Ottawa Staff, 19 March 1993.
33 Forwarded email from Human Resources Planning and Official Languages employee Helene Mainville to Stephanie McLennan, 19 March 1993.
34 Email from Sheila Tenasco to Director of Personnel Sharon Fleming, 16 March 1993.
35 Email from Regional Director Prairie Region Dave Kornichuk to IRB Calgary Staff, 24 March 1993.
36 Email from Stephanie McLennan to Documentation Centre staff, 23 March 1993.
37 Forwarded email by Stephani McLennan to Louise Meloche, 22 March 1993.
38 Email from Regional Director Prairie Region Dave Kornichuk to IRB Calgary Staff, 24 March 1993.
39 Week against Racism and Racial Discrimination – Report of Activities, May 1993.
40 Memo from Assistant Deputy Chairperson IRB Prairie Region Beth Bryant to Chairperson Mawani, 22 March 1993.
41 Forwarded email by Stephani McLennan to Louise Meloche, 22 March 1993.
42 Email from Juan Pedro Unger to IRB Documentation Centre Staff, 23 March1993.
43 Email from Sheila Tenasco to IRB Director of PersonnelSharon Fleming, 16 March 1993.