Terror and the Dynamism of Islamophobia in 21st Century Britain: The Concentrationary Gothic

This book explores the dynamics, nature, and experiences of the terrors of counter-terrorism measures in the UK, linking them to broader concerns of nation construction, racial profiling, policing, the state of exception, pre-emptive counter-terrorism measures, community-based counter-terrorism measures, and restrictions to political engagement, freedom of speech, and hate speech. It advances an original framework, the Concentrationary Gothic, to delineate the racialized mechanisms of terror involved in the governance of Muslim populations in the 'war on terror' context. The book illuminates how Muslims in Britain experience terror through racialized surveillance and policing strategies operating at state, group, and individual levels in diverse contexts. It situates these experiences within wider racial politics and theory, drawing connections to anti-Semitism, anti-blackness, anti-Irishness, and whiteness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 699 pages
Publication date: 06 August 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into profound insights into the dynamics, nature, and experiences of counter-terrorism measures in the United Kingdom. Author Abbas skillfully weaves her analysis into broader concerns such as nation construction, racial profiling, policing, the state of exception, pre-emptive counter-terrorism strategies, community-based counter-terrorism initiatives, and restrictions on political engagement, freedom of speech, and hate speech. What sets this work apart is its innovative framework, the Concentrationary Gothic, which sheds light on the racialized mechanisms of terror involved in governing Muslim populations within the context of the 'war on terror.'

Through meticulous research and analysis, the book illuminates the diverse ways in which Muslims in Britain encounter terror through racialized surveillance and policing practices at state, group (inter- and intra-), and individual levels in various contexts, including the street, workplace, public transportation, and homes. Abbas contextualizes these experiences within the broader realm of racial politics and theory, drawing connections to anti-Semitism, anti-blackness, anti-Irishness, and whiteness. This intricate mapping offers a unique perspective by employing Gothic tropes of haunting, monstrosity, and abjection to analyze the historical and contemporary manifestations of racial terror in the contexts of colonialism, slavery, and the camp.

This seminal work is of immense interest to students and scholars across sociology, criminology, anthropology, terrorism studies, Islamic studies, and critical Muslim studies. It provides valuable insights into race and racialization, security, immigration, nationhood, and citizenship, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between these issues. By examining the experiences of Muslims in the UK, this book contributes to our collective understanding of the challenges and complexities faced by communities in the aftermath of counter-terrorism measures.

Weight: 919g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030729516
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021