The Cities Programme was set up in 1997 by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) – with the support of the (now) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister – to chart the changing circumstances of UK cities and in particular to explore the relationships between economic competitiveness, social cohesion and governance. It undertook a wide range of studies using different methodologies in many communities, within the UK and in Europe. Much of the work of the Programme can now be found in a variety of academic and more popular publications, including the book of the Programme, City matters (http://cwis.livjm.ac.uk/cities). One important part of the Programme's work was devoted specifically to the role and contribution of different ethnic communities and groups to UK cities and the challenges and opportunities they faced in those cities. For example, our research looked at patterns of education, training and labour market issues, especially for young people, in both the under-performing North and the booming South of England. It explored issues of ethnic entrepreneurship. And it commissioned research on issues of identity, community, citizenship and rights.

The Cities Programme was particularly pleased to support the seminar on which this volume was based. We believed it important to explore in detail the range and diversity of experience of different ethnic groups in different regions in modern Britain. It was obvious to everyone that some groups in some places were doing well. But others were facing persistent discrimination and disadvantage, a fact underlined by the disturbances experienced in a range of northern cities in 2001. This volume was not intended to specifically explore the causes and consequences of those disturbances, although some authors do so. Rather it was intended to look behind those events to identify the nature and sources of the persistent patterns of ethnic and class disadvantage in Britain. The seminar brought together leading researchers in the field with many of the senior policy makers from a range of government departments responsible for shaping and delivering policies in these areas. We were excited by the dialogue that took place on that day. We are equally excited by the prospect of sharing the perspectives and contributions from that day with a wider audience. We look forward to a robust debate about this book's arguments and prescriptions.