Government Policies and Muslim Radicalism in the West

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, & the consequent war on terror' & the invasion & occupation of Iraq, has magnified the threat posed by Muslim immigrant communities residing in Europe. Terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks were Muslims who lived & trained in Western Europe. Since the last quarter of the twentieth century young European Muslims have been radicalized at a rate higher than ever before. This study examines the impact of government policies on immigrant Muslim communities residing in the United Kingdom & France. It explores whether policies of discrimination against these communities explain recent waves of terrorist attacks in these countries. Muslim communities in both countries differ in terms of ethnicity & tradition; however they are predominantly Sunni Muslims & migrants from former colonies. UK & France have their own idiosyncrasies. France is a Laic republic where religion is private, whereas Great Britain is a secular state where the Church continues its influence on politics. The study argues that government policies is an important variable however, it does not have a decisive impact on the radicalization of second generation Muslims.

Autorentext

My name is Randa el Kadi. Born in Beirut in 1957 of Lebanese parents. completed french high school in 1977. 1981 took my BA in Public administration from the American University of Beirut. Married in 1980 & had three children. I decided to challenge myself with a master degree in International Affairs which I finished in 2010.

Klappentext

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, & the consequent 'war on terror' & the invasion & occupation of Iraq, has magnified the threat posed by Muslim immigrant communities residing in Europe. Terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks were Muslims who lived & trained in Western Europe. Since the last quarter of the twentieth century young European Muslims have been radicalized at a rate higher than ever before. This study examines the impact of government policies on immigrant Muslim communities residing in the United Kingdom & France. It explores whether policies of discrimination against these communities explain recent waves of terrorist attacks in these countries. Muslim communities in both countries differ in terms of ethnicity & tradition; however they are predominantly Sunni Muslims & migrants from former colonies. UK & France have their own idiosyncrasies. France is a Laic republic where religion is private, whereas Great Britain is a secular state where the Church continues its influence on politics. The study argues that government policies is an important variable however, it does not have a decisive impact on the radicalization of second generation Muslims.