Scholars of Excellence Workshop: Islamophobia, Antisemitism and the Struggle for Recognition

Despite the declarations and urgings of bodies such as the UN and despite the rise of anti-Muslim hostility in the West, governments have been reluctant to legislate against or even define Islamophobia. It is however a concept we cannot ignore. Tariq Modood will present his multiculturalist view of Islamophobia in terms of cultural racism and misrecognition, the remedy for which is citizenship including recognition, anti-discrimination, institutional accommodation and the remaking of national identity. Aspects of this view, especially the focus on anti-Muslim racism, have become the dominant understanding of Islamophobia in Anglophone social science (albeit politically contested). He goes on to consider four difficulties for his views. Firstly, the rejection of this view by certain Muslims who emphasise that the targeting of their religious identity and of Islam is not caught in a rubric of racism. Secondly, that his focus on recognition of Muslims as an ethnoreligious group (like the Jews) does not adequately recognise religiosity but multiculturalism should strive to do so. Thirdly, that Muslim identities, even when victimised, cannot be recognised if inherent to those identities is a victimisation of others. Fourthly, one must be able to criticise Muslims and Islam so a definition of Islamophobia must assist in not just identifying Islamophobia but also what is not Islamophobia but reasonable criticism of Muslims and Islam. Throughout this discussion of Islamophobia he comparatively considers antisemitism, arguing that in doing so each illuminates the other and helps us to equitably apply the same standards to each in our political opposition to both.

This workshop is organised as a Symposium, in a debate format. Each discussant will offer their comments on Professor Modood’s perspective. A general discussion time will ensue.