The West bears considerable responsibility for the theoretical justifications for racism, which was presented for centuries by so-called “savants” as a scientific truth that could be used to justify all manner of injustices: colonialism, slavery, apartheid, genocide. Nowadays, it is the view of most scholars that there is no scientific basis for racism. Nevertheless, many scientific writings – or ones claiming to be – still show traces of racial prejudice. In Penser le racisme (Paris: Calmann-Lévy, 2004), Michel Girod has re-examined the full range of scientific writing in an attempt to understand the relationship of scientists to racism, and then to draw up an exhaustive inventory of theories and statements on the subject. André-Yves Portnoff has read the book for Futuribles and gives an outline of its main themes here.
Penser le racisme. À propos du livre de Michel Girod, Penser le racisme. De la responsabilité des scientifiques
Cet article fait partie de la revue Futuribles n° 301, oct. 2004
