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There are few sociology texts that acquire truly seminal status. This brief paper, however, reflects on one of the most celebrated and often cited works in British urban sociology. It seeks to explain: (1) the book's initial impact on debates and research in the field of ‘race and ethnic relations’; (2) the key controversies sparked by its theoretical positioning; and (3) why, and in what ways, it remains of relevance almost half a century after it was written. It concludes that there are two reasons for its continued appeal and significance. First, it placed housing firmly at the centre of debates about the position of Britain's migrant communities; second, it illustrates the potential of sociological research. At a time when controversies rage about ‘impact’, here is a work that not only contributed to our theoretical understanding of contemporary society, but also illustrated the value of ‘public sociology’ by engaging with the polity to bring about social change. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Race, Community and Conflict: A Study of Sparkbrook opened a new field of analysis. If it was to stimulate further growth of knowledge, it needed to be better related to the economic analysis of housing markets. Research to this end that was conducted in the Research Unit on Ethnic Relations after 1970 is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]