Regulating Interracialized Intimacies: Perspectives from Europe and Beyond (Routledge Research in Race and Ethnicity)

This book explores the role of the law in the social construction of ‘race’ and ‘mixture’ within and beyond the borders of Europe.It focuses on ‘interracialized’ intimacies, that is, the intimate relations of subjects ascribed and/or perceived to belong to different ‘races’.The role of the state in defining boundaries between ‘us’ and ‘them’ becomes particularly clear in their regulation.Moving across different times, places and political formations - including the US slavery regime, European colonial empires and metropolises - the book delves deep into how the governments of white-supremacist and white-majority societies have consistently attempted to prevent, discourage or obstruct intimate relationships crossing the colour line.This occurred directly, through prohibitions and anti-miscegenation laws, or indirectly, through citizenship laws, marriage licenses, social care, prostitution laws, housing policies, policing practices and other means.The book further shows that the legacy o