Islamophobia in the Global North: Origins, Manifestations, and Implications

The topic of Islamophobia has garnered considerable interest among academics, policymakers, community groups, and the wider public at large due to its ongoing pervasive presence and its significant impact on the lives of Muslim groups across the world, particularly in the global North. This also refers to the way those with prejudiced views frequently denigrate and demean Islam. While it is important to educate people on the implications and significance of this phenomenon, it is also true that many fail to fully appreciate its impact and reach.

As part of the Hijaz Community’s Blessed Summit of 2023, colleagues from the Drive project, which explores the ways in which social exclusion impacts questions of polarisation leading to potential violence and extremism, have been asked to provide input into the day’s agenda. This includes themes related to the project itself, wider concerns around counterterrorism, and my own contribution on definitions and contextualisations of Islamophobia. To that end, this is my lecture, which will be delivered later today.