Republic of Islamophobia
The Rise of Respectable Racism in France
Will be published approx. on 2. November 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-1-84904-688-6 (ISBN)
Description
Islamophobia in France is on the increase. Muslims are being subjected to unprecedented scrutiny of what they wear, eat and say. Racist acts and rhetoric are increasingly common. Leading public figures meanwhile continue to contest the use of the term 'Islamophobia'. Republic of Islamophobia argues that such intolerance has fed off the adoption of an authoritarian neoliberal outlook by mainstream French political parties, a process that has accelerated since the jihadist attacks in Paris in January and November 2015. Jim Wolfreys describes the development of a 'new secularism' that targets Muslims and gives a respectable veneer to racism. He examines how this secularism has been championed by the Front National's Marine Le Pen, and how it has divided the anti-racist movement and undermined the left's capacity to contest bigotry. Techniques from France's colonial era, he argues, are being adapted to stigmatise Muslims. Drawing on interviews conducted in Paris in 2015-16, Wolfreys highlights the work of independent grassroots campaigns and activists organising to confront racism.
Informed by their experience, he aims to provide tools for those confronting the wider backlash against Muslims that is embedding itself in Europe and the US.
Informed by their experience, he aims to provide tools for those confronting the wider backlash against Muslims that is embedding itself in Europe and the US.
Reviews / Votes
'Wolfreys brilliantly unpacks the political, cultural and economic mechanisms that have rendered French Muslims the ideal scapegoats of an entire nation . . . candid and incisive . . .the present book is by far the most comprehensive work on Islamophobia in contemporary France.' 'Effectively analyses the nature and rise of the vindictive Islamophobia that has come to grip French politics and society . . . persuasive.' Wolfreys' writing is that of a political insider, underpinned by academic rigour. This book is a wake-up call, warning of the creep of Islamophobia into mainstream French political discourse and its dire consequences if left unchecked. It is vital reading for policy makers and commentators alike. -- Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, author of 'The Enemy Within: A Tale of Muslim Britain' A powerful tale of France's Islamophobic spiral. Rich in detail and with a keen ear for the ironies of moral panics around veiling, violence, and values, Wolfreys shows France's importance in this globally emerging phenomenon. A compelling argument for the links between political Islamophobia, neoliberalism, and the failures of the left. -- Arun Kundnani, author of 'The Muslims Are Coming!' 'An authoritative and lucid account of France's descent into societal disaster. This excruciating and at times shocking catalogue of political mis-steps strongly suggests a far more dangerous 'enemy within' than the Muslim one we constantly hear about. Could the French experience be repeated here in the UK? Wolfreys' book is a warning to us all' -- James Fergusson, author of 'Al-Britannia, My Country: A Journey Through Muslim Britain' A sharp-eyed, merciless and up-to-the-minute analysis of France's current travails, which are also Britain's. -- Robert Gildea, Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford, and author of 'Fighters in the Shadows: A New History of the French Resistance'More details
Person
James Wolfreys lectures in French and European politics at King's College London. He is co-author (with Peter Fysh) of The Politics of Racism in France.