News

Edited by Peter Somerville and Andy Steele.
Jessica Kingsley Publishing
£19.95
ISBN 1 85302 849 5

From the dereliction of our worst social housing estates to the hidden poverty of the lower end of the private housing market, black and ethnic minority people are trapped in the worst living conditions as this collection makes clear. The authors throw light on a number of still-concealed discriminatory housing practices, such as social housing landlords failing to deal with racial harassment, institutional racism in the employment of staff and the central role that housing plays in the exclusion of refugees. There are also sound analyses of the housing needs of people from ethnic minorities, including Asian elders.

The contributors are happiest in the land of critique and are less comfortable in putting forward practical proposals for inclusive housing practices. They regularly express doubts about the concept of social exclusion, which they see as a form of social control working only if people "follow the rules of the game". With the exception of a fine chapter on participation and empowerment, grass-roots action and government initiatives on neighbourhood renewal tend to be overlooked. A chapter focusing on a particular area - say the East End of London - might have better clarified the significance of this local activity.

John Pierson is co-editor of Rebuilding Community (Palgrave, 2001)