Behind the News Series

Uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa

Behind the News: Race and Crime

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In Race and Crime, we ask why headlines often link these issues and question some assumptions. Are some crimes carried out by one ethnic or racial grouping more than by others? What parts do policing, prisons, the immigration system and the media play? We examine abuse and hate crimes linked to race, such as slavery or genocide. Who are the perpetrators and who are the victims?

This book includes quotes from key figures, opinions from all sides of the argument and debate panels that invite readers aged 12+ to discuss the issues that shape our world.

Other titles in the Behind the News series: Global Financial Crisis, Hostage Takers, School Shootings, Uprising in the Middle East and Violence Against Women

School Shootings

by Philip Steele

Published 28 August 2014

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In School Shootings, we look at why these terrible events occur, and what sort of people carry them out. What is the scale of the problem? Are such attacks more common in some parts of the world than others? Have they always taken place, or are they a new phenomenon? And how should we best respond to the fear of them happening again? What actions should be taken and what changes should be made?

Race and Crime

by Philip Steele

Published 15 August 2016

This timely book offers a critical examination of issues in the headlines concerning racial bias, crime, and police violence. Race and Crime shines a light on biases and assumptions that link race with crime in the media, and encourages readers to reflect on these biases in the information they consume daily. Readers are asked to consider the roles that policing, prisons, immigration, and the media play in enforcing racism, and to examine their effects throughout history, which include hate crimes in the forms of slavery, genocide, and police violence. Through debate sidebars, critical thinking questions, and real-world case studies, this title goes beyond media headlines to encourage students to critically explore important issues surrounding race and crime in their communities, nations, and the world.

Behind the News: Uprisings in the Middle East

by Philip Steele

Published 28 August 2014

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In Uprisings in the Middle East, we look at the ideas of revolution and change that have swept across southwest Asia and North Africa in recent years. We examine why these changes are taking place now and look at who is taking part in these events and what has prompted them to do so. We consider why the Middle East is so important to those who live in other parts of the world and ask what the future holds for the region.

Behind the News: Global Financial Crisis

by Philip Steele

Published 23 October 2014

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In Global Financial Crisis, we look at how this situation arose, what was done about it and explore whether the measures worked. The books examines whether the current economic system makes sense, and whether it is fair. Is it sustainable in the future or are more crashes on the way? In a globalised economy, these questions affect everyone on the planet.

Behind the News: Hostage Takers

by Philip Steele

Published 25 September 2014

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In Hostage-takers, we ask who are today's hostage-takers and what do they want? What drives them to extreme action? We look at how captivity and stress affect the victims and ask whether we should negotiate with hostage-takers. How can lives be saved and how can hostage-taking be prevented in the first place?