Politics Theory Other The UK's pogroms and resurgent Islamophobia w/ Nesrine Malik
Aug 18, 2024
Nesrine Malik, a Guardian columnist and author of *We Need New Stories*, delves into the recent wave of Islamophobia and racist violence in the UK following the tragic Southport stabbings. She discusses how the language used to describe these events can obscure the racial and religious dimensions involved. Malik also highlights the role of right-wing media in fueling divisive narratives, the importance of solidarity with Palestine in anti-fascist movements, and critiques the political climate's complicity in enabling such violence.
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Minorities Can Shape National Danger
- A numeric majority need not matter because a critical minority can still mobilize violence and intimidate communities.
- Political rhetoric and policy often reflect right-wing narratives, not public sentiment, widening the gap.
Perceived Cultural Hegemony Radicalizes
- Media and right-wing networks manufacture a sense of left-wing cultural domination that radicalizes people.
- The change of government can paradoxically heighten far-right action by removing perceived representation in power.
Resurgence Was Built On Decades Of Conditioning
- Islamophobia never fully disappeared; it was embedded and ready to resurge with a triggering event.
- Decades of media scare stories and securitising policies normalized Muslims as a security threat.
