Racism has had many guises. Its influence can be seen in politics and the law, historical interpretations, media reporting, and in everyday life, where it affects some people more than others. Theories about race have often been used to justify differences in wealth and poverty, or to explain the power of certain groups of people over others. In Australia and elsewhere, racism and racial theories have been closely associated with the destruction of indigenous societies. The science of race and racial difference has changed dramatically over time, in recent decades influenced by genetics research which proved that 'race', in a genetic sense, does not exist. Yet, racism continues to reduce life changes and access to opportunities for many groups perceived as racially different from the white-Anglo Australian majority. In this course you will examines the history and current social and political issues associated with 'race' as a concept and racism as social practice, using examples from Australia and elsewhere.