The rapid emergence of a multiracial society in England after 1945 should have caused considerable political conflict. In fact conflicts over race have had only an ad hoc impact on the polity. In this paper, this curious phenomenon is explained in terms of the structure of centre-periphery relations in England. The argument is that the race statecraft of the centre has exhibited a significant degree of continuity over four decades. The centre has always sought autonomy from white and black peripheral forces, yet at the same time has attempted to peripheralise the management of race policies and problems. On both counts it has been highly successful. Race management deserves to rank as one of the great political ‘jobs’ of the 20th century.
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