Radicalization and counter-radicalization at British universities: Muslim encounters and alternatives

TY - JOUR

T1 - Radicalization and counter-radicalization at British universities

T2 - Muslim encounters and alternatives

AU - Brown, Katherine

AU - Saeed, Tania

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This paper explores the ‘spaces’ left over for Muslims to be ‘radical’ and the management of minority identities in light of their securitization in the UK. The paper considers a key site of this management of ‘radical’ identities: the university. The university works as prototypical case because of the ways in student activism and identity are a priori drawn together but also because of the prevalence of higher education among terrorists in the UK and USA. As a result, universities have been specifically targeted in counterterrorism and counter-radicalization measures. The paper reveals through student narratives how security discourses of ‘radicalization’ constrain their activism, university experience and identities. Yet, alternative identity constructions emerge that work against the moderate/radical binary. These narratives show how incomplete the process is of incorporating Muslims into the nation.

AB - This paper explores the ‘spaces’ left over for Muslims to be ‘radical’ and the management of minority identities in light of their securitization in the UK. The paper considers a key site of this management of ‘radical’ identities: the university. The university works as prototypical case because of the ways in student activism and identity are a priori drawn together but also because of the prevalence of higher education among terrorists in the UK and USA. As a result, universities have been specifically targeted in counterterrorism and counter-radicalization measures. The paper reveals through student narratives how security discourses of ‘radicalization’ constrain their activism, university experience and identities. Yet, alternative identity constructions emerge that work against the moderate/radical binary. These narratives show how incomplete the process is of incorporating Muslims into the nation.

KW - Counterterrorism

KW - British Politics

KW - Universities

KW - Islam

KW - Gender

KW - Citizenship

U2 - 10.1080/01419870.2014.911343

DO - 10.1080/01419870.2014.911343

M3 - Article

SN - 0141-9870

JO - ETHNIC AND RACIAL STUDIES

JF - ETHNIC AND RACIAL STUDIES

ER -