A STUDY OF RACISM: METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

The article considers methodological problems in the study of racist attitudes and beliefs among individuals that manifest such attitudes and beliefs and among people who experience racist behaviour. The phenomenon of racism takes different forms, but it always includes the stigmatizing traits of perceived differences in the physical appearance of a human being, leading to exclusion, discrimination and persecution. The study of racism is important because of its topicality and growing presence in various places in the world. However, the study of racism encounters serious methodological problems: firstly, related to the definition of racism, secondly, owing to the desire of respondents to be politically correct and reluctance to talk about their experiences. The situation of a researcher outsider and a researcher- insider are different, sometimes an anthropologist studying natives – both positions have advantages and disadvantages. The article concludes that the only morally transparent and efficient method for a racism researcher is the engaged study of racism