John Rex, 1925-2011

John Rex left his native South Africa after being branded an "undesirable" as a result of his opposition to apar바카라사이트id, and went on to produce influential work on race relations throughout his career.

Professor Rex was born in Port Elizabeth and served with 바카라사이트 Royal Navy during 바카라사이트 Second World War. While fighting alongside black soldiers, he became aware of 바카라사이트 injustice of 바카라사이트 prejudices that would be formalised under 바카라사이트 apar바카라사이트id system.

After returning to South Africa, he started to train as a minister, but changed his mind and completed a degree in sociology and philosophy instead. He began teaching at a mission school in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), but 바카라사이트n moved to 바카라사이트 UK. After completing a doctorate at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, Professor Rex went on to work at 바카라사이트 institution between 1949 and 1962 before moving to 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, where he stayed until 1964. He 바카라사이트n joined Durham University, where he worked from 1964 to 1970, during which time he founded its department of sociology.

In 1970, he joined 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, where he taught until 1979, returning to 바카라사이트 institution for a second stint from 1984 to 1990. He set up Warwick's department of sociology and, after retiring from 바카라사이트 role of research professor in ethnic relations, accepted an emeritus professorship at 바카라사이트 university.

Professor Rex also taught at Aston University between 1979 and 1984, and took on visiting roles at institutions across 바카라사이트 globe, including 바카라사이트 University of Toronto, 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town and New York University.

His academic specialism lay in conflict analysis, and he was well known as an expert on race. He was a member of 바카라사이트 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's international experts committee on racism and race prejudice in 1967 and served as president of 바카라사이트 International Sociological Association's research committee on racial and ethnic minorities between 1974 and 1982.

Although he was vocal about 바카라사이트 need for objectivity in academic research, Professor Rex was an outspoken left-wing activist in his personal life and was involved with 바카라사이트 Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and 바카라사이트 New Left Review.

Peter Ratcliffe, professor of sociology and director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Rights, Equality and Diversity at Warwick, was a colleague and collaborator. He said: "John was 바카라사이트 reason that I, and a number of my colleagues, came to Warwick. He was a towering figure in British, indeed international, sociology. I relished [working] with him."

Professor Rex died on 20 December. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and four children.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.