Book Launch: White Privilege, 'Anti-white Racism' and White Supremacy in Australia: A slippery slope to societal harm
Book Launch: White Privilege, 'Anti-white Racism' and White Supremacy
Join the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University for the launch of White Privilege, 'Anti-white Racism' and White Supremacy in Australia: A slippery slope to societal harm by Dr Rachel Sharples and Dr Katie Blair.
White Privilege, 'Anti-white Racism' and White Supremacy in Australia examines the rise of white victimhood narratives in Australia, particularly the growing claims of 'anti-white racism'-the belief that white people are now the targets of prejudice and systemic discrimination. Sharples and Blair place these claims within the broader framework of Australia's settler-colonial and multicultural identity, arguing that narratives of white victimhood function as a continuation of denial-denial of racism, of white privilege, and of Indigenous sovereignty and dispossession. They unpack how mainstream institutions have legitimised and amplified these narratives, giving them a platform and reinforcing a backlash against diversity, anti-racism and social progress.
White victimhood is not a new phenomenon in Australia, but in recent years, it has reached new heights, emboldened by shifting global politics and a sense of entitlement tied to the perceived loss of privilege. This book examines what these claims reveal about race, power and national identity in contemporary Australia-and the political and social stakes of not taking them seriously.
Join Dr Rachel Sharples and Dr Katie Blair in conversation with Professor Azadeh Dastyari.
Lineup
Dr Rachel Sharples
Dr Rachel Sharples is a Senior Lecturer of Sociology in the School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University (WSU). Rachel is a member of the Challenging Racism Project (CRP) and the Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (CRIS). She is a leading researcher and educator in the sociological fields of race and ethnic relations, the regulation of borders and migration, and belonging. Rachel’s research interests are interdisciplinary, spanning anthropology, sociology, ethnic and racial studies, cultural studies and politics. Key areas of research include displaced persons, refugees and migrants in local and global settings; statelessness, citizenship and belonging; racism and anti-racism; and spaces of solidarity and resistance. Recent publications include anti-asylum seeker sentiment in the Australian population (Geopolitics), claims of anti-white racism in Australia (Journal of Sociology) and segmenting anti-Muslim sentiment to counter Islamophobia (Ethnicities). She has co-authored a chapter on racialized citizenship for the Handbook of Migration and Global Justice (Edward Elgar Publishing) and whether Australians’ care about human rights for Contemporary perspectives on Human Rights Law in Australia (Thomas Reuters). Rachel’s manuscript, Spaces of Solidarity, was published by Berghahn Books in 2020 and her edited collection, Deter, Detain, Dehumanise: the politics of seeking asylum was published by Emerald Publishing in 2024.
Dr Katie Blair
Dr Katie Blair has extensive experience coordinating and undertaking complex and strategic research and evaluation projects. She began her career as a research assistant at Western Sydney University while completing her PhD in political science, and has since worked extensively with academic, industry, government and non-government stakeholders to bridge the gap between the production of evidence and its use in policy and practice. She is particularly passionate about ensuring research is accessible and meaningful for practitioners, enabling evidence to inform program and service design that strengthens the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. Alongside her evaluation expertise, Katie has deep experience in community engagement and community-led practice. She has led place-based initiatives across multiple neighbourhoods, working closely with residents, local organisations, and government partners to co-design solutions, build community capacity, and translate local knowledge into action. Her work emphasises strengths-based, participatory approaches—ensuring communities are not just consulted but meaningfully involved in shaping research, policy, and practice. Katie also has extensive experience supporting academic, government and non-government agencies to build their evaluation capability and demonstrate the impact of their work. This ranges from evaluating state-wide government-funded programs to small, community-driven initiatives. She excels at meeting stakeholders where they are, building trust, and embedding practical monitoring, evaluation, and engagement practices into their day-to-day work.
Professor Azadeh Dastyari
Professor Azadeh Dastyari is the Director of the Centre for Western Sydney at Western Sydney University. Professor Dastyari is a leading scholar in human rights law, dedicated to challenging systemic inequality and transforming the conditions that silence and marginalise communities. Her work focuses on dismantling structural barriers and amplifying community-led solutions through rigorous research, deep collaboration, and strong public engagement. She has been a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School (as the highest ranked postgraduate Fulbright scholar in Australia and as a Lionel Murphy scholar), the European University Institute, Georgetown University, and the University of Bologna. Her legal and policy expertise has been sought by Australian parliamentary committees, Members of the European Parliament, and United Nations bodies. Before joining the Centre, Professor Dastyari was Director of Research and Policy at the Whitlam Institute, where she led a broad portfolio of high-impact, equity-focused initiatives. Her work spanned civic participation, digital inclusion for First Nations communities and the people of Western Sydney, and the advancement of social, political, and human rights. She has published widely in the areas of international human rights law, anti-discrimination law, and constitutional law.
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