A Global Racial Enemy: Muslims and 21st-Century Racism

Prejudice against Muslims has a long and complex history. In recent decades, discrimination, violence, and human rights abuses against Muslims have taken a significant turn, with rising reports and discussions of Islamophobia across the globe. However, much of the conversation has missed the key features of this increasingly insidious phenomenon. This original book puts race at the center of the analysis, exposing the global racialization of Muslims. With special attention paid to the United States, China, India, and the United Kingdom, the authors examine both the unique national contexts and – crucially – the shared characteristics of anti-Muslim racism. They uncover how a range of counterterrorism policies, from hyper-surveillance to racialized policing, and the ensuing representation of Islam, have taken a decisive role in shaping social life for Muslims and have worked across borders to justify and institutionalize an acceptable, state-sponsored face of racism. Ultimately, A Global Racial Enemy argues that anti-Muslim animus is a symptom of a global and powerful form of twenty-first-century racism.

Table of Contents:
Introduction – Muslim Global Racialization: 21st-Century Racism Chapter 1 – Muslim Histories: Contextualizing the Global War on Terror Chapter 2 – The Media and the Racialization of Muslims: Constructing a Global Threat Chapter 3 – The Global Racialization of Muslims and the Rise in Nationalism and Populism Chapter 4 – Global Counterterrorism Policies: Racializing Muslims via Surveillance, Policing, and Detention Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here? Possibilities for Resistance and Further Securitization

About the Author :
Saher Selod is Associate Professor of Sociology at Simmons University. Inaash Islam is Assistant Professor of Sociology at St Michael’s College. Steven Garner is Associate Professor of Sociology at Swansea University, UK.

Review :
“Deftly weaving theory, history, and sociology across continents, this book is an essential read for understanding why a systemic analysis of race and racism must include the experiences of Muslims.” Sahar Aziz, Rutgers University Law School “The authors deploy a convincing argument, backed by persuasive data, that anti-Muslim racism is a global phenomenon that relies on a shared notion of threat, irrespective of varying national visions and agendas, and one that animates a worldwide surveillance industry. Persuasive, powerful, and highly recommended.” Louise Cainkar, Marquette University “This impressive, urgently needed book changes our understanding of the global nature of anti-Muslim racism, offering unparalleled insights into the differences and surprising similarities in how Muslims are demonized. An essential read.” Evelyn Alsultany, University of Southern California