Britain’s national identity continues to be shaped by its imperial past and its journey towards accepting a truly multiracial, multicultural and multifaith future. In the wake of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and intense political and cultural upheaval, questions of race, education and belonging persist in their urgency.

This new edition of the seminal text explores Britain’s shifting identity from empire to a modern nation. It examines race, politics, education and national identity in a time of turbulent change. With fresh insights on the pandemic, leadership crises and culture wars, it critically assesses Britain’s evolving place in the world.

Including developments from 2019 onwards, this updated edition offers vital new chapters on the era from Johnson to Starmer, Black Lives Matter, the Sewell Report and the changing face of educational policy under successive ministers. It provides a sharp, comprehensive and timely analysis of how race and education intersect with Britain's ongoing search for identity.