Radical
Statistics
Editorial
This 'special issue' of the newsletter contains a collection of interesting papers on the 2001 Census. Kenneth Prewitt, the former Director of the US Census Bureau, begins the issue by providing some broad thoughts on the various responsibilities that statistical agencies have, and must abide by, when collecting data on any given population. This paper acts as a reminder to us all that the process of a Census is not as 'neutral' as might first appear. Prewitt examines the more political aspects of what happens when governments gather information on us. Where do the various strands of 'responsibility' lie? Where does the 'pubic good' fit into all this?
Indeed, the short piece that follows later in the newsletter by Jenny Boag dovetails nicely with the Prewitt paper. Boag seeks to question the involvement of politicians in the Census process and the system of consultation that emerged in the run-up to 2001. A case study of what occurred in Scotland sheds light on the strengths and weaknesses of the consultation mechanisms. Is, perhaps, a new Census Act required?
Ludi Simpson locates his paper in the heart of the 2001 British Census and his rich empirical data, gathered from a number of sources, provides for a very illuminating read. Simpson vividly accounts for some of the common issues that those working directly in the machinery of the Census had to face in attempting to gather the information required. A number of lessons are to be found in the comments and quotes that Simpson has very ably gathered and assessed.
The papers by Jo Southworth and Patricia Walls are both concerned with the problematic questions of ethnicity and religion in the Census. Southworth takes a broad look at the notion of 'invisibility' and who was not, for various reasons, 'counted in'. Walls examines in some detail events in Scotland and the issues facing Irish Catholics on the west coast regarding the census and links this in with health status.
Indeed, the theme of 'invisibility' continues in papers by Reynolds and Drakakis-Smith and Mason. In looking at how the Census does and does not deal with sexuality and the Gypsy/Traveller community, these authors also contest the 'count me in' hype that surrounded events leading up to 29 April 2001 and after.
In all, we hope you enjoy this special issue of Radical Statistics and that it gives you some food for thought as we get closer to Census 2011...
On another matter, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Seraphim Alvanides for joining me as editor of the newsletter for 2001-2003. As Seraphim also happens to work at Newcastle University, we should be able to work hard together to produce, hopefully, interesting and regular issues during our time in post as editors.
It should also be noted that the next issue of Radical Statistics - number 79 - will be open to contributions on any relevant topic. Brief abstracts should reach the editors by October 26th 2001 and final articles to us by December 21st 2001 please. It is best if abstracts and final articles are sent by e-mail attachment (see e-mail addresses below and the inside of the back cover for further details).
Please note that for Issue 79 Dr Alvanides will be the lead editor and he should be contacted in the first instance.
Finally, as I write this editorial, CNN is playing silently in the background throwing out unbelievable images from New York and Washington D.C. that continue to look too surreal to be real. Our thoughts are with those who have lost friends and family in what is a devastating and horrific time. This hasn't much to do with 'Radical Statistics', exactly, but I felt it had to be mentioned in this editorial. I'm only human.
Many thanks and peace be with us all.
Colin Clark
12 September 2001
Colin Clark and Seraphim Alvanides
Editors
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Colin.Clark@ncl.ac.uk
S.Alvanides@ncl.ac.uk
