Campaigns alone 'not enough to end racism'

Published on Tuesday 29 January 2008 21:09

EDUCATION campaigns alone may not be enough to change attitudes towards minority groups, a leading academic told MSPs yesterday.

Professor John Curtice, a research consultant for the Scottish Centre for Social Research, said that, depending on events, discrimination could increase, despite the efforts of specific initiatives.

Last year, a study by Prof Curtice and others found a change in attitudes towards Muslims, with 50 per cent of people questioned believing Scotland would lose its identity if more Muslims came to live here. He said this was in spite of the "One Scotland, Many Cultures" anti-racism campaign launched by the previous Scottish Executive.

Prof Curtice stressed the importance of events in shaping attitudes, adding: "Allegations have been made in connection with members of the Muslim community being involved in terrorist events. We've had unusually high levels of immigration over recent years. The potential for the revival of discriminatory attitudes is always there.

"An educational programme will find it difficult to succeed unless there is a wider social climate operating in its favour."

Prof Curtice was giving evidence to MSPs following the findings of a survey, published last month, which showed that 29 per cent of respondents believed there was sometimes a good reason to be prejudiced.