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ON the European continent continent, a reckoning with extremism   
ON the European continent continent, a reckoning with extremism   

Jan 6, 2021 | studies

European Observatory to Combat Radicalization

In British polite society even uttering the words Islamist or Islamism is taboo – ANALYSIS

Express – ON the continent, a reckoning with Islamist extremism is under way. In France, President Macron has introduced a comprehensive new law to combat what he calls “Islamist separatism”. Austria has founded an observatory to better understand and monitor domestic Islamist movements. Germany has cut off public funding to major Islamist linked charities. European governments are increasingly aware of the social cohesion challenge and the link between ‘non-violent’ Islamists and jihadist violence. Meanwhile, Britain is conspicuous in its absence from the debate and falling badly behind.

In fact, in British polite society, even uttering the words Islamist or Islamism is taboo, while those sincerely concerned by the growth of this political ideology in Britain must constantly fight off baseless racism accusations and Muslim activists are accused of being Uncle Toms. Authorities seem only able to discuss Islamism if they speak in equal terms about the far-right. At this stage of the fight and at this threat level, this is an unforgivable blind spot.

We have made very little effort to understand Islamism as distinct political theory and intellectual tradition. But this is exactly what it is: a political theory and not a matter of race or religion. Failing to understand this dynamic leaves Britain vulnerable and paralyses the debate between those who would wrongly blame all Muslims and those in denial about the problem.When schoolteacher Samuel Paty was decapitated in broad daylight in a Parisian suburb, the two challenges of Islamism collided in gruesome fashion, confirming France’s fears about both social cohesion and jihadist radicalisation.

In Britain, the conversation moved with shocking ease from the murder of an innocent schoolteacher to our new favourite fixations of identity and colonial pasts. These are the symptoms of a society that has lost confidence in itself and in its values.

If we cannot stand up and condemn such a callous act of brutal violence without equivocation, then we are in big trouble.In 2017, when waves of jihadist terror crashed against the United Kingdom, Theresa May asked for “difficult conversations” on Islamist extremism. In fact, the opposite has happened and we have too often opted for the easier route. Britain is a world leader on counter-terrorism. It’s high time we caught up in understanding and confronting the ideologies feeding terror as well.

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