Identities Event Series – Next Events
2 September 2026
On Angéline Escafré-Dublet's A Political History of Immigration in France
With Dr Angéline Escafré-Dublet, University of Lyon, France
Chaired by: Dr Timothy Peace, University of Glasgow
Chaired by: Dr Timothy Peace, University of Glasgow
Co-organised by Identities, University of Glasgow Political and International Studies, and Citizenship and Migration Research Network (CMRN) at the University of Edinburgh
Hybrid event. In person venue: University of Edinburgh, 19 George Square, Room G.02. Online joining option available also.
Please register on Eventbrite to attend. 12.30-13.30pm BST.
A Political History of Immigration in France is an enquiry into the making of a ‘country of immigration’ and how a demographic statistic can become such a controversial issue that occupies the top of the political agenda. The book starts from the overlooked fact that even though France became a country of immigration as early as the mid-19th century, because of its lagging population growth, it was only in the late-20th century that French people started to think of themselves as living in a country of immigration. The book is about this change in identity and the ways in which the politics of migration – a much broader and globally connected process - came to redefine France in the second half of the 20th century.
Hybrid event. In person venue: University of Edinburgh, 19 George Square, Room G.02. Online joining option available also.
Please register on Eventbrite to attend. 12.30-13.30pm BST.
A Political History of Immigration in France is an enquiry into the making of a ‘country of immigration’ and how a demographic statistic can become such a controversial issue that occupies the top of the political agenda. The book starts from the overlooked fact that even though France became a country of immigration as early as the mid-19th century, because of its lagging population growth, it was only in the late-20th century that French people started to think of themselves as living in a country of immigration. The book is about this change in identity and the ways in which the politics of migration – a much broader and globally connected process - came to redefine France in the second half of the 20th century.
1 October 2026
Working to Breaking Point: Una Marson’s Pioneering Broadcasting Career at the B.B.C.
With Dr Anthony Frampton and Dr Yvette Rowe, University of the West Indies, Jamaica
Online event. 15.00-16.30pm BST.
Una Marson, the first Black woman who was a full-time producer at the B.B.C. registered significant broadcasting accomplishments despite enduring unique challenges. She was a colonial subject and Pan-Africanist who pushed against entrenched cultural prejudices to develop a legendary broadcasting presence. Despite her remarkable accomplishments, her dismissal by the B.B.C. left her sidelined and forgotten. This talk will use textual analysis with grounded theory to examine data that traced Marson’s professional experiences. Articles, books, audiovisual materials, and internal B.B.C. memos are reviewed to establish a contextual narrative of Marson’s tenure at the B.B.C. The analysis suggests scholars pursuing a comprehensive understanding of the contributions of Black pioneers should interrogate the nuances of their private struggles and the implications of their personal losses. This approach is important because narratives of Black exceptionalism rooted in values that embrace colonialism, racism and imperialism have typically ignored or undervalued Black lives, and have missed critical insights.
This talk is based on the Identities article, 'Working to breaking point: Una Marson's pioneering broadcasting career at the B.B.C.'
Online event. 15.00-16.30pm BST.
Una Marson, the first Black woman who was a full-time producer at the B.B.C. registered significant broadcasting accomplishments despite enduring unique challenges. She was a colonial subject and Pan-Africanist who pushed against entrenched cultural prejudices to develop a legendary broadcasting presence. Despite her remarkable accomplishments, her dismissal by the B.B.C. left her sidelined and forgotten. This talk will use textual analysis with grounded theory to examine data that traced Marson’s professional experiences. Articles, books, audiovisual materials, and internal B.B.C. memos are reviewed to establish a contextual narrative of Marson’s tenure at the B.B.C. The analysis suggests scholars pursuing a comprehensive understanding of the contributions of Black pioneers should interrogate the nuances of their private struggles and the implications of their personal losses. This approach is important because narratives of Black exceptionalism rooted in values that embrace colonialism, racism and imperialism have typically ignored or undervalued Black lives, and have missed critical insights.
This talk is based on the Identities article, 'Working to breaking point: Una Marson's pioneering broadcasting career at the B.B.C.'
18 November 2026
Still Whitewashing Britain: Race, Class and the UK Citizenship Test
With Dr Anna Tuckett, Brunel University of London
Online event. 14.00-15.30pm GMT.
In this talk, Dr Anna Tuckett will examine how the UK citizenship test promotes an exclusionary vision of Britishness which is both classed and racialized. Reflecting on a longer trajectory of British nationality and citizenship policy-making since 1948, Dr Tuckett will show that the citizenship test must be situated within a broader ideological project that equates Britishness with whiteness. Drawing on ethnographic research at training centres which assist migrants in learning and memorizing the Life in the UK Handbook, Dr Tuckett will show that candidates must regurgitate this exclusionary version of Britishness in order to pass the test. However, the Handbook’s contents are not cleanly imparted, but rather messily refracted, as migrants’ and teachers’ own worldviews bleed into this idealized version of Britain and challenge its hegemony.
This talk is based on the Identities article, 'Still whitewashing Britain: race, class and the UK citizenship test' (Open Access).
Online event. 14.00-15.30pm GMT.
In this talk, Dr Anna Tuckett will examine how the UK citizenship test promotes an exclusionary vision of Britishness which is both classed and racialized. Reflecting on a longer trajectory of British nationality and citizenship policy-making since 1948, Dr Tuckett will show that the citizenship test must be situated within a broader ideological project that equates Britishness with whiteness. Drawing on ethnographic research at training centres which assist migrants in learning and memorizing the Life in the UK Handbook, Dr Tuckett will show that candidates must regurgitate this exclusionary version of Britishness in order to pass the test. However, the Handbook’s contents are not cleanly imparted, but rather messily refracted, as migrants’ and teachers’ own worldviews bleed into this idealized version of Britain and challenge its hegemony.
This talk is based on the Identities article, 'Still whitewashing Britain: race, class and the UK citizenship test' (Open Access).
Explore Identities at tandfonline.com/GIDE |
Bluesky: @identitiesjournal.bsky.social
|
The views and opinions expressed on The Identities Blog are solely those of the original blog post authors, and not of the journal, Taylor & Francis Group or the University of Glasgow.