Prof. Dr. Stefanie Boulila

“From astute observations of Meghan Markle and the multicultural monarchy, to the spectre of ‘monstrous’ Muslim women, Boulila brilliantly captures the political zeitgeist of the post-race moment with a rigorous and witty analysis that slices into the racism, sexism and Islamophobia that fuels the seductive common-sense political popularism sweeping Europe. A powerful and eloquent read that lifts the fog so we can see the truth!”

“In the most impressive part of the book, it is to these intersections of inequality denial that Boulila then turns, to the intersections of post-racialism, post-feminism and post-homophobia. Here, she articulates a very convincing analysis of race, sexual and gender politics in Europe, including a brilliantly sharp critique of usages of ‘diversity’ or ‘intersectionality’ in counterproductive and harmful ways that instead of overcoming structural problems present further hindrances to social and political transformation towards equality and social justice.”

“As Europe is witnessing a new era of racial denial, Boulila (Lucerne Univ. of Applied Sciences and Arts, Switzerland) provides valuable insights into European gender and racial inequalities that persist despite claims that they no longer exist. In her rigorous, thoughtful, and witty analysis, she questions how race operates in European democracies—especially with respect to sexual preferences. The author convincingly argues that the denial of “race” as a category has made it almost impossible to account for how “race” is used as a mechanism for social and political control. As she astutely observes, it is European “liberals” who have called for the implementation of tougher rules for immigrants and an end to multiculturalism. Particularly notable are chapter 1 (“Contesting European Racial Denial”), which explores the history of race denial in Europe; chapter 3 (“Racing Post-feminism”), which examines the political grammar of post-racialism and post-feminism in Europe; and chapter 7 (“But We Are All Different! Diversity and the Depoliticization of Anti-Racism”), which looks at the appeal of diversity in post-racial Europe. Boulila’s final chapter, “Resisting Intersectionality,” posits that intersectionality is a dangerous idea because it would necessitate changes to basic political and epistemological assumptions.”

“Boulila’s succinct demolition of the myth that these are post-racial times is a model of critical writing. Starting from the apparently happy moment of Meghan and Harry’s wedding, she is soon evidencing ways that ‘post-racial discourses’ have been promoted ‘as a means to displace antiracist claims’ and to disavow ‘the significance of race’ (...) Boulila demonstrates a consistent commitment to oppose oppression. Her well-evidenced insistence that ‘critical engagements need to hold on to strong definitions of inequalities that account for power relations and histories of subjugation’, and her view that race remains a crucial analytical category, are amongst the reasons that this book deserves to be widely read.”