New Books Network Radio ReOrient 13.9: “Everyday Islamophobia,” with Peter Hopkins, hosted by Claudia Radiven and Amina Easat Daas
Dec 12, 2025
Peter Hopkins, a Professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University, dives into his book, Everyday Islamophobia. He discusses the normalization of Islamophobia in UK counter-terror policies and the implications of surveillance on Muslim youth in universities. Hopkins critiques how Islamophobic ideas are copied globally and argues that endless debates on the term 'Islamophobia' silence genuine issues. He also highlights the need for structural changes in anti-Islamophobia initiatives and examines the impact on young Muslims' political engagement.
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Everyday Islamophobia Is Systemic
- Peter Hopkins reframes "everyday Islamophobia" as interconnected with global politics, not just mundane slurs or microaggressions.
- He argues everyday encounters form networks linked to media, policy, and transnational actors.
Personal Roots Of Scholarly Focus
- Peter recounts growing up in a Scottish school split between Pakistani Muslims and white Scots which shaped his interest in Islam and geography.
- His studies in Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies and local community research led to a PhD on young Muslim men post-9/11.
Prevent Creates Institutional Surveillance
- Hopkins shows Prevent operates as surveillance: targeted monitoring of Muslim student groups by university managers.
- Such low-level actions create unequal scrutiny and normalize institutional Islamophobia.
