Social Research and the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry

Abstract

This article begins by exploring the conceptualisation of racism that is to be found in the Macpherson Report and the implications that this has for social research. It then looks at some of the policy recommendations of the report and the ways in which its key recommendations raise important dilemmas for policy initiatives on race. The final part of the article moves somewhat beyond the content of the Macpherson Report and suggest that we as researchers need to develop a critical self-awareness of the limitations of our research agendas in addressing phenomena that are addressed in the report, such as racism within institutional settings and racist violence.