How racist is society today? How have the patterns of discrimination and disadvantage changed over the past 20 years? This text explores the nature and extent of racial discrimination, and the successes and failures of equal opportunities programmes. Incisive analyses focus upon the operation of institutional racism in immigration law, housing, social work, employment, training and the criminal justice system. They explore changes over time and examine the interwoven strands of `race', class and gender that form the pattern of disadvantage. This provides a context for a critical discussion of the formulation, implementation and outcomes of equal opportunities policies in the local state and the private sector. The authors investigate both `liberal' and `radical' approaches to equal opportunities in the area of `race'. They analyze the political and ideological contentions that influence the ways in which issues are defined and support is mobilized. They also highlight the shortcomings of current legislation.