The Securitisation - Integration Dilemma: The Case of British Muslims
The Securitisation - Integration Dilemma: The Case of British Muslims

Summary/Abstract: This paper analyses the securitisation of the socio-political integration of British Muslims by mainstream British politics from 2001 to 2015. The discourse and policy of consecutive Labour and Conservative-led governments regarding integration are evaluated concerning the securitisation criteria of the Copenhagen School, as revised by the Paris School. The institutionalisation of a common discourse to legitimise policy was analysed by examining the intertextuality between political and bureaucratic discourse, and party positions while in government and opposition. The findings demonstrate that British mainstream politics has been dominated by securitisation of Muslim integration in the form of a ‘politics of unease’ rather than a ‘politics of exception’. Muslims have been othered, first as immigrants by a ‘logic of equivalence’ (2001- 2005) and then as integrated Muslims versus potential terrorists by a ‘logic of difference’ (2005-2015). Although this approach appears inclusive of Muslims, its securitisation framing inhibits the desired integration due to its othering characteristics.

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