SEN Journal: Online Exclusives is delighted to bring you an exclusive interview with Emeritus Professor of Sociology Michael Banton, who has been dedicated to the fields of sociology and anthropology for over 50 years. Professor Banton has written extensively on race relations and race theories.
Karen Seegobin interviewed Professor Banton at the 2012 ASEN Conference, held at the London School of Economics and Political Science on 27-29 March 2012.
Karen Seegobin interviews Prof. Michael Banton at the 2012 ASEN Conference
1. What are the main themes you’ve been working on this year?
Well, I’ve just written a paper that I’ve sent to a journal about majority sentiment. All the writing in sociology about majorities is seen from the perspective of minorities. We talk about prejudices about minorities and discrimination…and so in talking about the troubles of minorities, we get a picture of the majority that is biased because it is a reflection of the concern with minorities. I’ve been trying to use this notion of social capital as a source of majority sentiment.