Dr Paul Thomasd.p.thomas@hud.ac.uk | 01484 478267
Paul has recently published his book ‘Responding to the Threat of Violent Extremism – Failing to Prevent’ (Bloomsbury, 2012). This offers a critical analysis of the UK’s ‘Prevent’ policy, community-based education designed to prevent terrorism. This new book argues that such efforts must be built around community cohesion activities that strengthen contact and dialogue between different communities. This builds on the arguments of Paul’s previous book, ‘Youth, Multiculturalism and Community Cohesion’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), which was shortlisted for the 2012 British Sociological Association Philip Abrahms Prize. Both books have been based on extensive field research in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire and on knowledge exchange activity with local authorities in the region, leading also to articles in leading international journals and several book chapters, as well as involvement in an Anglo-French ESRC Workshop programme on comparisons between the 2001 British and 2005 French urban disturbances. Between 2007 and 2009, Paul was Lead Investigator on the 'Rochdale and Oldham Youth Identity Project', funded by the Rochdale Pride Partnership and the University of Huddersfield Research Committee, and investigating young people's understandings of 'Identity' and their experiences of cohesion and segregation. The key findings of this project were launched at a seminar held at University Campus Oldham in April 2009. More recently, Paul has been co-investigator on a research project looking at how local authorities in West Yorkshire have operationalised Community Cohesion policies, funded by Local Government Yorkshire and Humber, with the findings presented in December 2010.
Invited Keynote Lectures/Presentations
(2012) Prevent and Community Cohesion: Synergy or Conflict?, Keynote presentation to: British International Studies Association 'Prevent in 2012: Challenges and Ways Forward’ conference, Kings College London 6th September
(2012), Community Cohesion in Practice – Case Study evidence from Oldham, Plenary presentation to CRONEM conference, University of Surrey, Guildford, 27th June
(2012) Responding to the Threat of Violent Extremism – Failing to Prevent? Plenary address to ‘Responding to the many forms of violent extremism’ conference, Birmingham, 17th April
(2010) ‘Is Multiculturalism dead?’ Keynote presentation to SUNCETT Conference on "What do Teachers and Teacher Educators need to know about Equality and Diversity?’’, Sunderland, March.
(2009) Expert Witness oral evidence presentation to the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee Inquiry in to the Preventing Violent Extremism policy, London, December.
(2009) Community Cohesion and the ‘death of multiculturalism, ‘Race’ and Racism in the North-East Conference, University of Sunderland, October.
(2009) The Oldham and Rochdale Youth Identity Research Project: Key Findings, Seminar at University Campus Oldham, April.
(2009) The Oldham and Rochdale Youth Identity Research Project : Key Findings, Seminar at University Campus Oldham, April
(2009) ‘Between Two Stools – The Government’s PVE agenda’ :presentation to Leeds Local Strategic Partnership ‘Thinking Cohesion’ group, March.
(2008) Evaluation of the ‘Preventing Violent Extremism’ policy initiative to date – Association of West Yorkshire Authorities Community Cohesion Seminar – Leeds, July.
External Evaluation of first year programme of Kirklees ‘Preventing Violent Extremism ’Pathfinder initiative (2008)
(2012) Struggling at the margins – youth, racial tension and informal educational responses, European Educational Research Conference, Cadiz, 18th September (with Pete Sanderson)
(2012) Crossing Borders? Youth work professionals as agents of ethnic ‘integration, British Educational Research Association Conference, Manchester 5th September
(2010) Spatial-cultural Trajectories of Northern Towns, XVII World Congress of Sociology, International Sociological Association, Gothenburg, Sweden, 5th-8th July (with Pete Sanderson)
(2010) Unwilling Citizens? Muslim Young People and National Identity, Paper to the British Sociological Association Conference, Glasgow, and 8th -10th April. (with Pete Sanderson)
(2009)The Last Britons? Muslim young people and national identity, Political Studies Association Annual Conference, Manchester 6-8th April
(2009) Young people, the ‘Death of multiculturalism’ and Community Cohesion, Race and the World Conference, Goldsmith’s College, London 2-3rd April (with Tom Henri, Goldsmiths)
(2007) ‘Community Cohesion, ‘the death of multiculturalism’ and work with young people – Europe and its Established and Emerging Immigrant Communities Conference ,De Montfort University, Leicester, 10/11th November
(2007) ‘From Petrol Bombs to Performance Indicators – the 2001 riots in the UK and the emergence of Community Cohesion’: Presentation to ESRC Anglo/French workshop, Birmingham, October
Other Activities
1983 – 1984 South Asia: Studying work of community development organisations in South India and Sri Lanka (15 months)
Thomas, P. and Sanderson, P. (2013) ‘Crossing the Line ? White young people and Community Cohesion’ Critical Social Policy , 33 (1), pp. 160-180. ISSN 0261-0183
Thomas, P (2012) ‘Prevent and Community Cohesion – Synergy or Conflict?’. In: British International Studies Association 'Critical Terrorism Studies' Working Group Conference, 6th September 2012, Kings College, London
Thomas, P (2012) Responding to the Threat of Violent Extremism - Failing to Prevent London, UK: Bloomsbury Academic
Thomas, P (2012) ‘Community Cohesion and the ‘death of multiculturalism’ in Britain: evidence from Oldham’. In: CRONEM Conference:The Future of Multiculturalism: Structures, Integration Policies and Practices, 26th-27th June 2012, University of Surrey, UK
Thomas, P (2012) ‘Book Review of The new imagined community. Global media and the construction of national and Muslim identities of migrants, by Uriya Shavit, Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, 2009, ISBN 978-1-84519-3287’ National identities , 14 (2), pp. 189-206. ISSN 1460-8944
Sanderson, P. and Thomas, P. (2012) ‘Community cohesion and spatial-cultural trajectories: influences on youth identification in Northern English Towns’ Ethnicities . ISSN 1468-7968
Thomas, P (2012) ‘All White? Englishness, ‘Race’ and Ethnic Identities In ‘These Englands: A conversation on national identity’ Edited by Arthur Aughey and Christine Berberich, Manchester: Manchester University Press ’. In: These Englands: A conversation on national identity’. Manchester: Manchester University Press. . ISBN 9780719079610
McAuley, J., Ward, P., Thomas, P., Mycock, A., Matthews, J., McGlynn, C., Hayton, R. and Webster, W. (2011) ‘Academy for British and Irish Studies, 2011’. In: Academy for British and Irish Studies (relaunch), December 2011, University of Huddersfield
Thomas, P. and Sanderson, P. (2011) ‘Unwilling Citizens? Muslim young people and national identity’ Sociology , 45 (6), pp. 1028-1044. ISSN 0038-0385
Thomas, P (2011) ‘Proving our Worth? Youth Work, 'Race' and Evidence’ Youth and Policy , 107, pp. 18-33. ISSN 0262-9798
Thomas, P (2011) Youth, Multiculturalism and Community Cohesion . Palgrave Politics of Identity and Citizenship. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan . ISBN 0230251951
Thomas, P (2011) ‘Multiculturalism and the emergence of ‘community cohesion’’. In: Redefining social justice: New Labour, rhetoric and reality. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. . ISBN 9780719082207
Thomas, P. and Henri, T. (2011) ‘Changing directions: young people and effective work against racism’ Journal of Youth Studies , 14 (1). ISSN 13676261
Thomas, P (2010) ‘Marching Altogether? Football fans taking a stand against racism’. In: Sport and Challenges to Racism. : Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 185-198. ISBN 9780230236158
Thomas, P (2010) ‘Failed and Friendless: The UK's ‘Preventing Violent Extremism’ Programme’ The British Journal of Politics & International Relations , 12 (3), pp. 442-458. ISSN 1467856X
Monro, S., Razaq, U., Thomas, P. and Mycock, A. (2010) Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP) Community Cohesion and Prevent Pilot. A report prepared for: Local Government Yorkshire & Humber Huddersfield: University of Huddersfield
Thomas, P. and Sanderson, P. (2010) ‘Unwilling Citizens? Muslim Youth and national identity.’. In: British Sociological Association Conference, 7th-9th April 2010, Glasgow
Thomas, P (2010) ‘Book review : Mixed up kids, race, identity and social order. Author, Tina Patel, Russell House Publishing: 2008 ’ Youth and Policy , 104, pp. 134-136. ISSN 0262-9798
Thomas, P (2010) ‘Youth Work responses to prejudice and extremism’. In: Rochdale youth service staff conference, 2nd March 2010, Rochdale
Thomas, P (2010) ‘Is multiculturalism dead?’. In: What do teachers and teacher educators need? SUNCETT Spring Conference, 22nd March 2010, University of Sunderland
Thomas, P (2010) ‘Youth identities and the threat of extremism’. In: SEPD Seminar, 5th February 2010, University of Huddersfield
Ashmore, L., Dalton, J., Noel, P., Rennie, S., Salter, E., Swindells, D. and Thomas, P. (2010) ‘Equality and Diversity ’. In: Teaching in Lifelong Learning: A Guide to Theory and Practice. Milton Keynes: Open University Press/McGraw Hill Education. pp. 58-76. ISBN 9780335234684
Thomas, P (2009) ‘Community cohesion, the ‘death of multiculturalism’ and work with young people’. In: Europe's Established and Emerging Immigrant Communities: assimilation, multiculturalism or integration. Stoke-On-Trent: Trentham Books. . ISBN 9781858564661
Thomas, P (2009) ‘Community cohesion and the death of multiculturalism’. In: ‘Race’ and Racism in the North East: From Theory to Practice, 30th October 2009, University of Sunderland
Thomas, P (2009) Submission to the Communities and Local Government Committee in response to the call for evidence around the Government’s ‘Prevent’ programme: September 2009 House of Commons (Unpublished)
Thomas, P (2009) ‘From petrol bombs to performance indicators: The 2001 riots and the emergence of Community Cohesion ’. In: Rioting in the UK and France: A comparative analysis. Uffculme: Willan Publishing. .
Henri, T. and Thomas, P. (2009) ‘Young People, Community Cohesion and the ‘Death of Multiculturalism’’. In: Race in the Modern World: An international conference on race discourses and contemporary identities, 1st - 3rd April 2009, Goldsmiths, University of London and the Stephen Lawrence Trust, London, UK
Thomas, P (2009) ‘Between two stools? the government's 'Preventing Violent Extremism' agenda ’ The Political Quarterly , 80 (2), pp. 282-291. ISSN 0032-3179
Thomas, P (2009) ‘The Last Britons? Young Muslims and national identity’. In: 59th Political Studies Association Annual Conference: Challenges for Democracy in a Global Era, 7th - 9th April 2009, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Thomas, P (2009) ‘Moving on from 'anti-racism'? Understandings of 'Community Cohesion' held by Youth Workers ’. In: Issues in post-compulsory education and training: critical perspectives. Huddersfield: University of Huddersfield. pp. 263-287. ISBN 9781862180680
Thomas, P. and Sanderson, P. (2009) The Oldham and Rochdale Youth Identity Project Huddersfield, UK: University of Huddersfield
Thomas, P (2008) Kirklees ‘Preventing Violent Extremism’ Pathfinder: Issues and Learning from the First Year University of Huddersfield
Thomas, P (2007) ‘The impact of community cohesion on youth work ’. In: Leading work with young people. : Sage. pp. 109-124. ISBN 9781412946032
Thomas, P (2007) ‘Moving on from ‘anti-racism’? Understandings of ‘community cohesion’ held by youth workers’ Journal of Social Policy , 36 (3), pp. 435-455. ISSN 0047-2794
Thomas, P (2007) ‘The impact of community cohesion on youth work ’. In: Leading Work with Young People. London: Sage/Open University. pp. 109-123. ISBN 9781412946049
Thomas, P (2007) ‘From petrol bombs to performance indicators: the 2001 riots and the emergence of 'community cohesion' in the UK ’. In: A Comparative Analysis of Recent French and British Riots, 24 October 2007, Birmingham
Thomas, P (2007) ‘Community cohesion, the ‘’Death of Multiculturalism’’ and work with young people’. In: Europe and its Established & Emerging Immigrant Communities conference: Assimilation, Multiculturalism or Integration?, 10 - 11 November 2007, De Montfort University, Leicester
Thomas, P (2006) ‘The impact of community cohesion on youth work: A case study from Oldham ’ Youth and Policy (93), pp. 41-60. ISSN 0262-9798
Thomas, P (2004) ‘Anti-racist work with white young people’. In: Commission for racial equality/Oldham race equality partnership seminar, February 2004, Oldham
Thomas, P (2003) ‘Young people, community cohesion and the role of youth work in building social capital ’ Youth and Policy (81), pp. 21-43. ISSN 0262-9798
Thomas, P. and Pearson, M. (2003) Towards a Youth Work Agenda : A Research report on youth theatres and Connexions University of Huddersfield
Thomas, P (2002) ‘Youth work, racist behaviour and young people Education or blame? ’ Scottish Youth Issues Journal (4), pp. 49-66. ISSN 1469-0780
Thomas, P (1999) Open talk, open minds: anti-racist education for young people London: Commission for Racial Equality
Thomas, P (1995) ‘Kicking racism out of football: a supporter's view ’ Race and Class , 36 (4), pp. 95-100. ISSN 0306-3968
Local:
Founder member and steering group member of the University of Huddersfield Academy for the Study of Britishness (2008 to present). Key role is organising a regular series of 'Community Cohesion' seminars.
Steering Group member/ Consultant - ARK project. Preventative, youth-work based anti-racist project in North Kirklees, co-ordinated by Kirklees Racial Equality Council (2002-2005).
National:
Expert Witness oral evidence to House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee Inquiry in to Preventing Violent Extremism, 14 December 2009.
Member of British delegation to ESRC Anglo-French workshop series on Urban Riots 2001-2006 (2007)
Chair, International Committee of Football Supporters Federation. (includes managing the F.S.F. Fans Embassy, operation at the Euro 2000 football tournament) 1998-2002.
Member, Institute of Learning and Teaching (Prior experience route) May 2002.
Member of Training Agencies Group
University of Sunderland – BA Youth and Community Work Studies/Foundation Degree in Youth and Community Work Studies (February 2005 onwards)
Referee of Research Bids
ESRC Research Grants bid Ref ES/H037748/1 on ‘Political participation and religious integration of Muslims in London after 9/11’, January 2010.
Recent Research Grants, Contracts
Local Government Yorkshire and Humber (2009-2010) : Evaluation of Community Cohesion and Prevent Strategies in Kirklees and Bradford (Regional Improvement and Effectiveness Pilot) (With School of HHS) ; qualitative evaluation with strategic leaders, front-line workers and community members – £19,800
Youth Justice Board (2009-2011) – Evaluation of initial ‘Prevent’ activities (led by Applied Criminology Centre, HHS) ; my role was literature review and writing - £147,000
Oldham Youth Identity Project (2007-2009) – funded by University of Huddersfield Research Committee. Utilised Youth Workers as researchers to gather views from young people on the ethnic/national/local ‘Identity’ of self and ‘others’: £57,000
Rochdale Youth Identity Project (2007/2009) – funded by Rochdale Pride Partnership as part of Government’s ‘Preventing Violent Extremism’ initiative. Utilised Youth Workers as researchers to gather views from young people on the ethnic/national/local ‘Identity’ of self and ‘others’: £13,000
Kirklees Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder activity with young people (2008) – Evaluation of first year. Qualitative evaluation activity funded by Kirklees MC: £1,500
'The World in Oldham' -Action research project around anti-racist educational practice in Oldham primary schools.’ Funded by Oldham Children's Fund, and led to publication ‘The World in Oldham’ : £10,000 (Oldham Children’s Fund, 2004)
'Towards a New Agenda -Youth Theatres and ConneXions' - funded by the National Association of Youth Theatres. Report published 2003 (with Matthew Pearson)
Anti-Racist Work with white young people- Commission for Racial Equality-funded action research project, leading to publication 'Open Talk Open Minds' (CRE, 1999)
