Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Contact Theory

Too Timid for “Race” and Racism

Bibliographic Data

ID10219844
AuthorsZ Erasmus (0000-0003-1528-0992, University of Cape Town, corresponding author)
Year2010
Volume66
Issue2
Pages387-400
Publication date2010-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-4537 • E-ISSN: 1540-4560
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1540-4560.2010.01651.x
OpenAlexW1908265060
LanguageEN
Citations received26
References cited43

This article extends critiques of contact theory. It notes four deeper limitations: (1) what I call a “psychometric imaginary”; (2) an assumption that “race” is given, homogeneous and stable; (3) contact/noncontact dualism; and (4) inattention to whiteness. These limitations locate contact theory within raciological thought, making contact a reformist, rather than transformative antiracist strategy. I suggest an alternative: a critical literacy for the use of “race.” Contrary to Pettigrew's (1998) call for conceptual economy, I argue that conceptual expansion better serves understanding the tenacity of “race” and complexities of racism(s). Contrary to the psychometric imaginary of contact theory, I suggest that we need a visionary political imaginary for an antiracist world. I conclude that the key question for transforming intergroup relations in South Africa is not “which conditions,” and “what kinds of” contact are necessary, but “what kinds of politics, knowing, seeing and belonging” are necessary for critical antiracist praxis

Contact hypothesis · Critical race theory · Critical theory · Dualism · Epistemology · Pedagogy · Political science · Politics · Praxis · Psychoanalysis · Race (biology · Racism · Sociology · The Imaginary · Transformative learning · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Studies · Law · Philosophy · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

  • Shifting race and class in student construction of identities at a South African university

    Tasmeera Singh, D Bhana•African Identities•2015

  • Contact theory and the concept of prejudice

    Open Access•Buhle Zuma•Theory & Psychology•2014

  • Finding the familiar in the strange

    Open Access•Toni Dobinson, Maggie Mcalinden et al.•Higher Education Research &…•2021

  • Mapping public art to explore the decolonization and Africanization of space in the inner city of Durban, South Africa

    Open Access•Fidelis Joseph Udo, Subashini Gordon et al.•South African Geographical Journal•2026

  • The Use of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) for Sociolinguistic Purposes in South Africa

    Pedro Álvarez-Mosquera•Language Matters•2017

  • Intergroup Contact as a Potential Path to Neutralize the Detrimental Effect of National Identification on Xenophobia in Germany

    Open Access•Petia Genkova, Christoph Daniel Schaefer et al.•Journal of International…•2021

  • Emerging Patterns of Social Identification in Postapartheid South Africa

    Open Access•Elirea Bornman•Journal of Social Issues•2010

  • Social cohesion among Syrian and Turkish children, adolescents, and young adults in Turkey

    Open Access•Nitya Mittal, Marta Parigi et al.•International Migration•2024

  • The Power of Narratives in Conflict and Peace

    Open Access•Moritz Ehrmann, Gearoid Millar•Civil Wars•2021

  • They dug up wounds’

    Jennifer Nyawira Githaiga, P Gobodo-Madikizela et al.•Race Ethnicity and Education•2017

  • Race and assessment practice in South Africa

    Jeff Jawitz•Race Ethnicity and Education•2012

  • Is contact theory still valid in acute asymmetrical violent conflict? A case study of Israeli Jewish and Arab students in higher education

    Zehavit Gro, Rotem Maor•Peace and Conflict Journal of…•2020

  • Young Coloureds’ implicit attitudes towards two historically White English accents in the South African context

    Pedro Álvarez-Mosquera•English World-Wide A Journal of…•2019

  • Multiracial Families and Contact Theory in South Africa

    Open Access•Megan du Toit, Michael Quayle•South African Journal of Psychology•2011

  • An Evaluation of Ancestral Diversity in 19th-Century South Shields

    Open Access•B R Wigley, Ben Wigley•Post-Medieval Archaeology•2021

  • Commentary

    Open Access•T F Pettigrew•Journal of Social Issues•2010

  • The Changing Landscape of Intergroup Relations in South Africa

    Open Access•Gillian Finchilescu, Colin Tredoux•Journal of Social Issues•2010

  • The Reconstitution of Privilege

    Open Access•Crain Soudien•Journal of Social Issues•2010

  • The rise and fall of exclusion

    Open Access•Xiang Wang, Y Tong et al.•International Political Science…•2025

  • Leaving it to the Children

    Kate Lefko-Everett•Politikon•2012

  • Contact Theory in a Small-Town Settler-Colonial Context

    Open Access•Jeffrey S Denis•American Sociological Review•2015

  • Language, race or place? Influential factors in determining young "Coloured" individuals' attitudes towards Afrikaans accents in English

    Open Access•Pedro Álvarez-Mosquera, Alejandro Marín-Gutiérrez•Lingua•2021

  • "Instrumental explanations of attitudes towards immigrants during the "refugee crisis

    Open Access•Damon Di Mauro, Vincenzo Memoli•International Social Science…•2021

  • Impure Community

    Victoria Anderson, Vivienne Anderson•Journal of Intercultural Studies•2013

  • How do younger generations of white Afrikaans-speaking South Africans become antiracist

    Open Access•Judy-Marié Van Noordwyk•Social Identities•2025

  • What Would They do if you Greeted?' The Potentiality of Greetings in the New South Africa

    Karie L Morgan•African Studies•2015

  • Constructing race

    Nadine Dolby•Constructing race•2001

  • Out of Whiteness

    Les Back, Vron Ware•Out of Whiteness•2001

  • Whiteness just isn't what it used to be

    Melissa E Steyn•Whiteness just isn't what it used…•2001

  • Situating “Race” and Racisms in Time, Space, and Theory

    Jo-Anne Lee, John Lutz•Situating "race" and racisms in…•2005

  • Imperial Eyes

    Mary Louise Pratt•Imperial Eyes•1992

  • Understanding Everyday Racism

    Philomena Essed•Understanding Everyday Racism•1991

  • Critical Race Theory

    Kimberlé Crenshaw, Neil Gotanda et al.•Critical Race Theory•1996

  • A Critical Psychology of the Postcolonial

    Open Access•Derek Hook•Theory & Psychology•2005

  • From Redistribution to Recognition? Dilemmas of Justice in a ‘Post-Socialist’ Age

    Nancy Fraser•Feminism and politics•1998

  • Critical Race Theory and Education

    William F Tate, William F Tate IV•Review of Research in Education•1997

  • The Wretched of the Earth

    Open Access•Frantz Fanon•Posthumanism•2000

  • Chapter 4

    Open Access•William F Tate•Review of Research in Education•1997

  • Make Indigenes Unconscious of Whiteness

    Open Access•K Ratele•South African Journal of Psychology•2007

  • As the Postcolonial Moment Deepens

    Open Access•Melissa Steyn•South African Journal of Psychology•2007

  • Interpersonal Concerns in Social Encounters between Majority and Minority Group Members

    Open Access•J Nicole Shelton•Group Processes & Intergroup…•2003

  • Future directions for a critical social psychology of racism/antiracism

    Open Access•Derek Hook, Caroline Howarth•Journal of Community & Applied…•2005

  • Studying talk and embodied practices

    Open Access•K Durrheim, John Dixon•Journal of Community & Applied…•2005

  • Towards a critical social psychology of racism

    Open Access•Caroline Howarth, Derek Hook•Journal of Community & Applied…•2005

  • Against the notion of a ‘new racism’

    Open Access•Colin Wayne Leach•Journal of Community & Applied…•2005

  • Critical Race Theory

    Stephen Steinberg•Journal of American Ethnic History•2001

  • From apartheid to affirmative action

    Open Access•Vijé Franchi, Tanya M Swart et al.•International Journal of…•2003

  • The racialization of affirmative action in organizational discourses

    Open Access•Vijé Franchi•International Journal of…•2003

  • Rethinking the Paradigm of Prejudice

    Open Access•Stephen Reicher•South African Journal of Psychology•2007

  • Prejudice and Social Contact in South Africa

    Open Access•Zelda Holtman, Johann Louw et al.•South African Journal of Psychology•2005

  • White Excellence and Black Failure’

    Open Access•Donovan Robus, Catriona Ida Macleod et al.•South African Journal of Psychology•2006

  • Patterns of Racial Segregation in University Residence Dining-Halls

    Open Access•Leigh Schrieff, Colin Tredoux et al.•South African Journal of Psychology•2005

  • A Paradox of Integration? Interracial Contact, Prejudice Reduction, and Perceptions of Racial Discrimination

    Open Access•John Dixon, K Durrheim et al.•Journal of Social Issues•2010

  • The Reconstitution of Privilege

    Open Access•Crain Soudien•Journal of Social Issues•2010

  • Race From the Inside

    Open Access•Aaron Celious, Daphna Oyserman•Journal of Social Issues•2001

  • Critical race theory

    Richard Delgado, Jean Stefancic•Critical race theory•2001

  • A meta-analytic test of intergroup contact theory

    T F Pettigrew, Linda R Tropp•Journal of Personality and Social…•2006

  • Easier done than undone

    Aiden P Gregg, Beate Seibt et al.•Journal of Personality and Social…•2006

  • Beyond the Optimal Contact Strategy

    John Dixon, K Durrheim et al.•American Psychologist•2005

  • Intergroup Contact

    Open Access•John F Dovidio, Samuel L Gaertner et al.•Group Processes & Intergroup…•2003

  • Frantz Fanon's Radio

    Ian Baucom•Contemporary Literature•2001

  • Intergroup Contact Theory

    T F Pettigrew•Annual Review of Psychology•1998

  • The end(s) of race

    D T Goldberg•Postcolonial Studies•2004

  • South Africa's Racial past

    Sean Redding, Paul Maylam et al.•South Africa's Racial Past•2017

  • Critical Race Theory and Education

    Open Access•David Gillborn•Discourse Studies in the Cultural…•2006

Unique citing works26
Citations per year1,63
Citation span2010 - 2026 (17)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 24
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae