Clark Colin Dr

Contact Details

Research Interests

My primary research interests are located within the Ethnic and Racial Studies field of study. I also have active interests in related areas such as Diaspora Studies and Post-Colonial debates, as well as nationalism studies. The over-arching theme that connects these issues is my long-standing concern with questions of social justice and social inclusion. I am particularly interested in issues of migration, identity, citizenship, disadvantage, diversity and multiculturalism from a multidisciplinary and policy-focussed perspective. It is the sociology and cultural geographies of ‘race’, ethnicity and migration that I’ve primarily engaged with in the last few years and I have many related publications in this field (please see list below). In summary, I’ve made useful contributions to at least three different areas within this body of knowledge:

1) Theories of racial, ethnic and national identities

2) Sociological understandings of ethnic minority communities known as Romanies, Gypsies and Travellers in terms of their identity, movement and migration

3) The policy implications/consequences surrounding issues of ‘race’, ethnicity, asylum and migration (in social security, education and health settings especially)

Outside of these primary concerns, I have an interest in social theory (especially Marxism), nationalism and qualitative methodologies (ethnography/participant observation in particular). More recently I've developed a critical interest in what has been termed 'the happiness industry' (confidence, health and well-being) as well as broader concerns with different education systems. My immediate and future research plans are to consolidate my position as an international researcher and author in the field of Romani/Diaspora Studies as well as to explore other connected areas (especially issues of ethnicity and identity, as well as asylum and migration, in the broad context of my longstanding interest in social justice and social inclusion).

Teaching Interests

Undergraduate

• Undergraduate
• First Year: ‘Sociology’ (a block of lectures on social identity)
• Second Year: ‘Personal Troubles, Public Issues’ (contributing lecturer)
• Third Year: ‘Nationalism, Identity and Culture’ (class coordinator/lecturer)
• Fourth Year option: ‘Ethnic and Racial Studies’ (class coordinator/lecturer)

Postgraduate

• MSc in Social Research
• MSc in Refugee and Migration Studies
• PhD in Sociology / Social Policy

Biographical Summary

I joined the University of Strathclyde in January 2005 as a Senior Lecturer in Sociology. Previous to this appointment I was a Lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (1996-2004) and a Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Glasgow (1994-1996). During 2008 I was Visiting Scholar/Professor in the Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. In 2009-2010, I was Associate Dean (Postgraduate Research) for the Education Faculty as well as the Law, Arts and Social Sciences Faculty (now merged as the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences). In March 2012 I was re-appointed, for a three year term of office, as Associate Dean (Postgraduate Research) and Head of Graduate School for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Qualifications

• MA (Hons) in Political Science and Social Policy (University of Dundee, 1992)
• PhD in Social Policy/Anthropology (University of Edinburgh, 2001)

Administration

My current administration duty is Associate Dean (Postgraduate Research) and Head of Graduate School for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Editorial Work

I'm a member of Editorial Boards for the journal Sociology Compass as well as Journal of Sociological Research. I am also involved with the work of the journal Romani Studies.

Knowledge Exchange Work

Since about 1998 I’ve undertaken knowledge exchange and consultancy work with a range of public and voluntary sector organisations including: the Benefits Agency, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Save the Children Fund, Community Service Volunteers, the Commission for Racial Equality, the British Council, the Runnymede Trust and the Scottish Human Rights Commission.

Key Networks and Links

• The British Sociological Association
• The Social Policy Association
• The European Roma Rights Centre
• The Socio-Legal Studies Association
• The Gypsy Lore Society (Board of Directors)
• The National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health
• The Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform Coalition
• Radical Statistics Group
• The Scottish Human Rights Commission (Research Advisory Group)
• ESRC ‘Embodied Selves in Transition: disabled young bodies’ Project (Steering Group member, Newcastle University)

Recent Grant Income

Interns@Strath / Carnegie Awards – ‘Comparing and contrasting the growth of the English Defence League and the Scottish Defence League: national identities in times of devolution’ (funding for an Undergraduate Intern project, working with 4th year student Ruari Sutherland, £1,200.

Institute for Advanced Studies - 'Integration of Refugees: a life cycle study in six countries', £25,000. With T. Baum, G. Smyth and A. Cathcart. (January 2009 - June 2009).

The British Council - 'Living Together / MyGrant Cities Project - The impact of migration into Glasgow from Central and Eastern Europe', £21,041. With N. Canton and E. Pietka. (March 2008 - March 2009).

East Lothian Council / Midlothian Council / City of Edinburgh Council / Scottish Borders - 'Accommodation Needs Assessment for Gypsy/Travellers', £42,298. With D. Lomax and M. Lloyd. (August 2006 - April 2007).

The British Academy - ‘The making and shaping of the ‘Gypsy activist’: family, identity and civil rights’, £6,192. Grant number: SG-39683. (March 2005 – March 2006).

Research Supervison

I currently supervise eight Sociology / Social Policy PhD students at Strathclyde:

• Kirsty Henderson (minority ethnic groups in Scotland and their use of new health services technology);
• Olushola Bode-Kehinde (ethnic identity and conflict resolution in Darfur);
• Khairul Azam Bahari (non-verbal communication in Malaysia);
• Joseph Idegwu (conflict in West Africa);
• Fiona Campbell (anti-racism and multiculturalism);
• Abdala Ashhima (education and health services in Tripoli);
• Khalid Nagiah (family counselling centres in Saudi Arabia);
• Laura Steckley (residential child care and physical restraint)

To date I have successfully supervised six PhD students to completion and since 2002 I have been external examiner for nine PhD theses (at Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham, Exeter, Sheffield, London School of Economics, Ulster and, most recently, the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne). I have also acted as Internal Examiner and Convenor on many occasions as well. I regard supervising and examining PhD students as one of the most rewarding aspects of working in Higher Education and I'm always keen to hear from potential students who want to work in the areas I can most effectively supervise in - please just get in touch with me to discuss potential research projects.

Publications

This is a small selection of my recent writing and publications. If you'd like a copy of my full CV then please just get in touch.

Clark, C. 2013. (forthcoming). 'Intersectionality', in J. H. Moore (Ed.) (second edition) Encyclopaedia of Race and Racism, New York: Macmillan USA. (5,000 word entry)

Clark, C. 2013. (forthcoming). 'Crimes against Humanity', in J. H. Moore (Ed.) (second edition) Encyclopaedia of Race and Racism, New York: Macmillan USA. (2,000 word entry)

Clark, C. 2013. (forthcoming). 'Roma/Gypsies', in J. H. Moore (Ed.) (second edition) Encyclopaedia of Race and Racism, New York: Macmillan USA. (1,000 word entry)

Clark, C. and Sutherland, R. 2013. ‘Uncovering the EDL and the SDL: lessons for anti-racists’, to be submitted to Critical Social Policy (currently in progress)

Clark, C. and Canton, N. 2012. (forthcoming). ''Race', ethnicity and nationalism', in Marsh, I., Keating, M., Punch, S., and Harden, J. (Eds.) Sociology: Making Sense of Society (fifth edition), Harlow: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Clark, C. and Rice, G. (2012) ‘Spaces of hate, places of hope: The Romanian Roma in Belfast’, in M. Stewart (Ed.) The Gypsy ‘Menace’: Populism and the New Anti-Roma Politics, Hurst and Company: London.

Clark, C., Pietka, E., and Canton, N. (2012) ''I know that I have a University Diploma and I'm working as a driver': defining the EU post-enlargement movement of highly skilled Polish migrant workers to Glasgow, Scotland', in B. Glorius and I. Grabowska-Lusinska (eds.) Post-Accession Migrations: Flows and Patterns, Amsterdam: IMISCOE.

Clark, C. (2010) 'The Nation-State: Civic and Ethnic Dimensions' in K. Cordell and S. Wolff (Eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Ethnic Conflict, Routledge: London.

Clark, C. (2009) 'People Move On: The Policy and Politics of Migration from Central and Eastern Europe to Neoliberal Scotland' in N. Davidson, P. McCafferty and D. Miller (Eds.) Neoliberal Scotland? Class and society in a stateless nation Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Press.

Clark, C., and Canton, N. (2009) ''Race', Ethnicity and Nationalism', in Marsh, I., Keating, M., Punch, S., and Harden, J. (Eds.) Sociology: Making Sense of Society (fourth edition), Harlow: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Clark, C., Canton, N. and Pietka, E. (2008) 'The Thing Is That We Haven't Come Here For Holidays': The Experiences Of New Migrant Communities From Central And Eastern Europe Who Are Living And Working In Glasgow , Edinburgh/London: British Council and the Institute for Public Policy Research.

Clark, C. (2008) 'Measuring the Impact of Devolution: A Discussion’. Radical Statistics, Issue 97: 4-9.

Clark, C. Bull, C. and McIntosh, A. (2008) 'Land, Identity, School: Exploring Women's Identity with Land in Scotland through the Experience of Boarding School', Journal of Oral History, 36(2): 75-88.

Clark, C. (2008) 'Themed Section Introduction: Care or Control? Gypsies, Travellers and the State', Social Policy and Society, 7(1): 1-7.

Clark, C., Adamson, K., and Cashmore, L. (2007) 'Running After Them with Fruit and Flowers': Roma Migration to Scotland, Scottish Left Review, Issue 42 (October/November).

Clark, C. (2007) 'Roma/Gypsies', in J. H. Moore (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Race and Racism , New York: Macmillan USA.

Clark, C. (2007) 'The Economics of Happiness', Sweet Futures (Special Edition, June 2007), p26-28.

Clark, C. (2006) 'Scottish Education In The 21st Century: A Story Of Tradition, Myth, Conflict And Progress' in G. Mooney, T. Sweeney and A. Law (Eds.) Social Care - Health And Welfare In Contemporary Scotland , Glasgow: Kynoch and Blaney (Chapter 13, pp. 297-329).

Clark, C. (2006) 'From Self to Structure - Challenging the 'Happiness Industry' In Scotland’, Variant, Issue 27.

Clark, C. and Greenfields, M. (2006) Here to Stay: The Gypsies and Travellers of Britain Hatfield: University of Hertfordshire Press.

Clark, C. (2006) ‘Defining Ethnicity in a Cultural and Socio-Legal Context: The Case of Scottish Gypsy-Travellers’, Scottish Affairs, Spring 2006, Issue 54, pp. 39-67.

Clark, C. and Cemlyn, S. (2005) ‘The Social Exclusion of Gypsy and Traveller Children’ in G. Preston (Ed.) At Greatest Risk: The Children Most Likely To Be Poor, London: CPAG. (Chapter 11) pp. 150-165.

Clark, C. (2004) ‘It is possible to have an Education and be a Traveller: Education, Higher Education and Gypsy-Travellers in Britain’, in I. Law, D. Phillips and L. Turney (Eds.) Institutional Racism in Higher Education, Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham Books. pp. 71-82.

Clark, C. (2004) 'Severity has often enraged but never subdued a Gipsy': The History and Making of European Romani stereotypes', in N.D.B. Saul and S. Tebbutt (Eds.) The Role Of The Romanies: Images And Counter-Images Of Romanies/'Gypsies' In European Culture , Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. pp. 226-246.

Clark, C. (2004) ‘The Czech Republic and its Romani Minority: an Ethnopolitical Overview’ (pp.272-279) and ‘The Slovak Republic and its Romani Minority: an Ethnopolitical Overview’ (pp. 341-350), in K. Cordell and S. Wolff (Eds.) Palgrave Encyclopaedia of Ethnopolitical groups in Europe , Basingstoke: Palgrave.