TY - JOUR

T1 - Counting racism

T2 - quantitative methods and the challenges of structural analysis in Germany

AU - Karakayali, Serhat

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

PY - 2025/1/16

Y1 - 2025/1/16

N2 - This paper explores the challenges and potentials of integrating critical theories of racism with quantitative methods in the German context, where the term “racism” has only recently gained broader acceptance in social and political discourse. The paper examines how recent quantitative studies, including survey-based approaches and field experiments have contributed to understanding racism while highlighting the limitations of focusing on attitudes and overt behaviour. Drawing on critical race theory and materialist perspectives, the paper argues that quantitative methods can align with structural approaches when conceptualised as tools to reveal the relational and institutional dimensions of racism. Examples include the rationality embedded in discriminatory practices or the heuristic use of group identities in decision-making. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a methodological synthesis that leverages the strengths of both critical and empirical traditions. It concludes by proposing a framework for using quantitative research to address the institutional and structural dimensions of racism.

AB - This paper explores the challenges and potentials of integrating critical theories of racism with quantitative methods in the German context, where the term “racism” has only recently gained broader acceptance in social and political discourse. The paper examines how recent quantitative studies, including survey-based approaches and field experiments have contributed to understanding racism while highlighting the limitations of focusing on attitudes and overt behaviour. Drawing on critical race theory and materialist perspectives, the paper argues that quantitative methods can align with structural approaches when conceptualised as tools to reveal the relational and institutional dimensions of racism. Examples include the rationality embedded in discriminatory practices or the heuristic use of group identities in decision-making. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a methodological synthesis that leverages the strengths of both critical and empirical traditions. It concludes by proposing a framework for using quantitative research to address the institutional and structural dimensions of racism.

KW - critical race theory

KW - Germany

KW - methodology of racism research

KW - quantitative methods

KW - Racism

KW - structural racism

KW - Sociology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85214397208&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/01419870.2024.2446486

DO - 10.1080/01419870.2024.2446486

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85214397208

JO - Ethnic and Racial Studies

JF - Ethnic and Racial Studies

SN - 0141-9870

ER -