British Muslims perceptions of social cohesion: from multiculturalism to community cohesion and the ‘war on terror’

Ahmed, S. 2018. British Muslims perceptions of social cohesion: from multiculturalism to community cohesion and the ‘war on terror’. Crime, Law and Social Change. 71, p. 581–595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-018-9804-9

TitleBritish Muslims perceptions of social cohesion: from multiculturalism to community cohesion and the ‘war on terror’
TypeJournal article
AuthorsAhmed, S.
Abstract

Since the Northern disturbances of 2001 and the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the UK government has changed the focus of policies from those that predominantly focused on British Muslims’ Asian identity, to those that focus on British Muslims’ religious identity. The fracturing of the Asian identity has been evident in the political discourses on the ‘war on terror’ and community cohesion, with both defining British Muslims through their religious identity, as opposed to their Asian identity, an identity for which inter Asian commonality existed. This article draws on research that was conducted on British Muslims’ perceptions of social policy since the 1980s and explores the extent to which changes in governmental policies have impacted British Muslims’ perceptions of commonality with non-British Muslims. The article demonstrates how the ‘war on terror’ and community cohesion are negatively impacting social cohesion through making British Muslims feel isolated and marginalised in society. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the radicalisation of British Muslims and the growing influence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

KeywordsMuslims, Multiculturalism, Community cohesion, War on terror
JournalCrime, Law and Social Change
Journal citation71, p. 581–595
ISSN0925-4994
1573-0751
Year2018
PublisherSpringer
Accepted author manuscript
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Publisher's version
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-018-9804-9
Web address (URL)https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10611-018-9804-9
Publication dates
Published17 Nov 2018
Supplemental file
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
LicenseCC BY 4.0

Related outputs

Institutional Racism: Colonialism, Epistemic Injustice and Cumulative Trauma
Ahmed, S. 2024. Institutional Racism: Colonialism, Epistemic Injustice and Cumulative Trauma. Routledge.

Religion and Terrorism: Is Far-Right Terrorism Another Form of Religious Terrorism?
Ahmed, S. and den Heyer, G. 2023. Religion and Terrorism: Is Far-Right Terrorism Another Form of Religious Terrorism? in: Birch, P., Murray, C. and McInnes, A. (ed.) Crime, Criminal Justice and Religion A Critical Appraisal Routledge.

The undeniable reality of the ‘war on terror’, radicalisation and sanity
Ahmed, S. 2021. The undeniable reality of the ‘war on terror’, radicalisation and sanity. in: Bhui, K. and Bhugra, D. (ed.) Terrorism, Violent Radicalisation, and Mental Health Oxford University Press.

The ‘War on Terror’, State Crime & Radicalization: A Constitutive theory of Radicalization.
Ahmed, S. 2020. The ‘War on Terror’, State Crime & Radicalization: A Constitutive theory of Radicalization. Palgrave Macmillan.

A Cosmopolitan response to the 'war on terror'
Ahmed, S. 2019. A Cosmopolitan response to the 'war on terror'. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology. 11, pp. 64-78.

Citizenship, belonging and attachment in the ‘war on terror’
Ahmed, S. 2016. Citizenship, belonging and attachment in the ‘war on terror’. Critical Criminology: an International Journal. 24 (1), pp. 111-125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-015-9279-2

Reflections on conducting research on the ‘war on terror’: religious identity, subjectivity and emotions
Ahmed, S. 2016. Reflections on conducting research on the ‘war on terror’: religious identity, subjectivity and emotions. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 19 (2), pp. 177-190. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2014.976488

The 'emotionalization of the 'war on terror'': counter-terrorism, fear, risk, insecurity and helplessness
Ahmed, S. 2015. The 'emotionalization of the 'war on terror'': counter-terrorism, fear, risk, insecurity and helplessness. Criminology & Criminal Justice. 15 (5), pp. 545-560. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895815572161

Constitutive criminology and the ‘war on terror’
Ahmed, S. 2014. Constitutive criminology and the ‘war on terror’. Critical Criminology: an International Journal. 22 (3), pp. 357-371. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-014-9235-6

(In)security, risk, Muslim communities, policing and the 'new terrorism'
Ahmed, S. and Spalek, B. 2011. (In)security, risk, Muslim communities, policing and the 'new terrorism'. in: Doolin, K., Child, J., Raine, J. and Beech, A. (ed.) Whose criminal justice? State or community? Hook, Hampshire Waterside Press. pp. 123-140

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/qvww8/british-muslims-perceptions-of-social-cohesion-from-multiculturalism-to-community-cohesion-and-the-war-on-terror


Share this

Usage statistics

219 total views
220 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.