Racism can be defined as the avoidable and unfair inequalities in power, resources, capacities and opportunities across racial or ethnic groups, occurring through stereotypes, prejudices, violence or discrimination that range from racial slurs to deeply embedded inequities in social systems and structures (Berman and Paradies, 2010). In the context of increasing globalisation and unprecedented migration flows across the world, racism remains a social problem of worldwide significance (United Nations, 2009). Survey evidence from around the globe indicates that racism is on the rise in Europe (Brika et al., 1997; Semyonov et al., 2006), the USA (Gallup Poll, 2014), the UK (The Guardian, 2014) and Australia (Markus, 2014).

Racism has been found to be associated with a series of morbidities and socioeconomic malaise. Global research has made a consistent link between mental ill-health and the ongoing and cumulative experience of racism (Pascoe and Richman, 2009; Williams and Mohammed, 2009; Brondolo et al., 2011; Conklin and Hokulea, 2011; Goto et al., 2013; Schmitt et al., 2014; Paradies, 2006). There is also evidence that racism is associated with economic costs (Paradies et al., 2015) within workplaces such as labour turnover, absenteeism and the regulatory costs associated with complaint resolution (Triana, Jayasinghe and Pieper, in press). Racism is also linked to political instability, giving rise to public disorder and widespread civil disturbance (Noble, 2009). Racism can also undermine sense of belonging among target minority groups, undermining social cohesion and collective citizenship (Nelson et al., 2011). Research has also shown that migration are often more exposed, in general, to racism than non-migrants (Dunn et al., 2004). This is particularly the case where there has been substantial migration into a country from relatively new sources, and in circumstances where the official reception and settlement support of immigrants is not propitious. The diversity associated with migration is likely to be poorly received by a large part of the population if there is no widespread consent to a broad and inclusive definition of citizenship (Forrest and Dunn, 2010).