Responding to the Threat of Violent Extremism: Failing to Prevent

Table of Contents:
Contents Acknowledgements Preface Glossary Introduction: A new threat of violent extremism? The Policy response of Prevent The purpose of this Book The Structure of the Book Issues of Terminology 1. The Threat of Violent Extremism Introduction: 'Terrorism'? 7/7: Home-grown suicide bombers Radical Islam: the 'single narrative' A reaction to British Foreign Policy? A Foreign Hand? Ethnic Segregation, Poverty and Marginalisation? Radicalisation: Mosques, 'preachers of hate' and recruiters? Group Dynamics Conclusion: No easy answers 2. Community Cohesion: A changed policy context Introduction: The changed policy context of Community Cohesion The 2001 Riots and their aftermath The emergence of Community Cohesion Community Cohesion in practice Refusing Brutishness? Problematic Muslim Identity? A Minority of lslamist extremists 3.Preventing Violent Extremism Introduction: States responding to terror A lethargic response? Pre 7/7 developments 'Preventing Extremism Together' 'Preventing Violent Extremism' Preventing Violent Extremism in practice Prevent under Pressure Coalition Government: A new approach? The Revised Prevent Strategy Conclusion: Prevent - flawed and friendless? 4. British Muslims: A Suspect Community? Introduction: Muslims under the spotlight A monocultural contradiction to Community Cohesion? Clumsy 'Social Engineering' Learning from the experience of anti-racist education Disinterest in far-right extremism Conclusion: Some Communities are suspect? 5. Confusion on the Ground: Prevent in operation Introduction: Orders from above Local Authorities and Prevent Local Variations Not all bad news? Professionals in the spotlight? Summing up: Local Authorities in a bind? Extremists on Campus? Prisons and Young Offenders Conclusion: Local Complexity 6. Spooks? Introduction: Education or Surveillance? CONTEST and the growth of the security state RICU: Massaging the message? 'Spooked': Allegations and responses Channel: A way forward? Conclusion: Perception is everything?

About the Author :
Paul Thomas is Reader in Youth and Education at the School of Education and Professional Development, University of Huddersfield, UK.

Review :
Paul Thomas writes in an accessible and persuasive manner, with arguments expertly and attractively presented. The topic itself is of utmost policy significance. This book fills a gap in a field marked by a lack of serious, research-based treatments. -- Vivien Lowndes, Professor of Public Policy, University of Nottingham, UK This book provides a clearly written and confidently argued account of mainly British debates over how to respond to violent extremism. It draws on some new research evidence and makes a valuable contribution to our knowledge and understanding of this topic... with much insight and a wealth of detail informed by a strong critical voice. Ian Law, Professor and Director, CERS - Centre for Ethnicity and Racism Studies, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds, UK The book offers a useful and detailed discussion of the myriad of issues relating to this subject and succeeds in ploughing a focussed furrow through what is a potentially mammoth and controversial subject. Clear signposting and useful chapter summaries makes this a useful reference book. -- Diane Frost, Department of Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology, University of Liverpool, UK The book provides an informative and readable account of the development and implementation of the Prevent strategy, that serves a readership interested in state approaches to 'soft-security' well by providing a clear overview of the history of Prevent and engaging extensively with very recent changes under the present Coalition government. ... The book will be a very useful addition to the fields of state-Muslim relations, the governance of ethnic and religious diversity, counter-terrorism and politics of race, ethnicity and religion. -- Therese O'Toole, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Bristol, UK