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It is a fact known by everyone that the world we live in has a major problem in reference with racism, particularly in Europe. In current years the fortunes of extreme right parties throughout Europe have dramatically changed. It has been attempted by sociologists to explain why this has happened using various theories and important factors. It is important to firstly understand what racism is, the different aspects of racism and whether or not there has been a rise in contemporary Europe. Racism is a "belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an interest superiority of a particular race. (http://www.e-thepeople.orgla-national/comment/39849/view) Racist exits within a whole series of assumptions, feelings, attitudes and beliefs about people of color and culture, which are a mixture of fear, misinformation and ignorance. The different aspects of racism are personal level racism, where as mentioned before people have individual values, attitudes and beliefs about the superiority of the white race and the inferiority of cultured race. Interpersonal level racism, where it is a group or ones behavior towards others that reflects this belief. Institutional level racism, where the established traditions, customs, laws and practices which systematically conclude in racial inequalities in a society, institutions or organizations, and lastly it can also be encouraged by the aspects of cultural level racism, where the norms and values of social conduct promotes white cultural practices as a norm, and uphold other cultures in an inferior position. To interpret whether there has been a rise in racism is very difficult to do, as nations are not the same and solve in different ways. One way of determining a rise in racism is through dependence upon statistics of violence attacks, however this is not reliable of social trends and behavior. In the sixties no records of racist violence was recorded. People would not go to the police with problems regarding racism so police now have made themselves easier to be approachable, therefore there has been under reporting of criminal behavior. It is also true to say that some elements of racism have got worse and others got better. Overt racism has demolished but people's beliefs towards this may be worsening e.g. towards asylum seekers. In August 2000an article entitled "Europe fears spread of racism" was published by BBC News. It was based on evidence taken from the German police force in Germany. It was shown by the figures that racist crimes, including attacks on foreigners in Germany, had increased over more than fifty percent from ten thousand in 1999, to sixteen thousand in 2000 (www.bbc.co.uk/news) An increase of racist related rimes has also been seen in other countries, particular highly Sweden.
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