Debating Diversity, Analysing the Discourse of Tolerance - Softcover

"Blommaert and Verschueren have done an excellent job of providing us with the critical tools necessary to understand how the discourse we are all responsible for building, adapting, and perpetuating can be more harmful than helpful in building societies that are truly open, even embracing of diversity. Clearly we have work to do.-John Biles, Department of Canadian Heritage." ..."a thorough, topical, and relevant treatment of the widespread yet near-invisible forms of racism that pervade public discourse on cultural difference." -Language in Society

Immigration, racism and nationalism have become hotly debated issues in the Western world. This highly original and controversial work focuses on the language used by the vast majority who regard themselves as being open to a multi-cultural society.
Using Belgium as a case study and drawing parallels with the UK, US, Europe and the former Yugoslavia, the authors analyse this language and reveal a remarkable consistency between these liberal voices, such as in news-reporting, and the language used by radical racist and nationalist groups.