Measuring Racism or Deciphering its Rationale? A Contribution from a Spanish Setting

Luca Sebastiani
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3097-1548
Universidad de Granada, España 
lucaseba78@ugr.es

Paula Martín-Godoy>
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7541-8864
Universidad de Granada, España
martingodoy@ugr.es

Antonia Olmos-Alcaraz
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5852-6492
Universidad de Granada, España
antonia@ugr.es

Abstract:

In this article we study knowledge produced on racism within the Spanish context and we discuss from a critical perspective the theoretical-methodological approaches influencing public policies. We will focus on two studies: first, an annual poll surveying how attitudes towards immigration have evolved and, secondly, a barometer for Muslim population. We argue that the «psychologized-ideologized» approach to address racism encourages the spread of positivist measurement instruments and ends up invisibilizing both its dynamics of reproduction at the institutional-structural-governmental levels and the daily experience of those who have to endure this on their own.

Keywords: racism, social survey, Spain, racialization, racism working rationale.