The new orthodoxy: Racial categories and equal opportunity policy

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Abstract
Since the late 1950's there has been a considerable change in the assumptions on which central and local government race policies have developed. Although the goals of policy have never been clearly stated the initial assumption was that immigrants would and should adopt the ‘British Way of Life’. Immigrants and their children were expected to assimilate completely so that they and their children would be distinguishable from the ‘host’ community only in terms of superficial differences. This assumption has largely been superseded by the notion of equality of opportunity within a culturally plural society. The latter suggests that private diversity will be tolerated along with full rights of participation in the public arena.