Tag: Society

The Vicissitudes of Dutch Electoral Politics

The results of yesterday’s snap parliamentary elections in the Netherlands have sent shockwaves across Europe. With 37 seats in the 150-seat chamber, the far-right, anti-immigration Party for Freedom (PVV), run by the controversial Geert Wilders, has emerged as the dominant force. This outcome raises the alarming prospect of an extremist party dictating policy in one…… Continue reading The Vicissitudes of Dutch Electoral Politics

Countering Exclusion, Countering Radicalisation

There has been a pronounced rise of anti-Muslim sentiment across Europe in recent years, with roots dating back to the 1990s that were sharply accelerated after the events of 9/11. This pervasive Islamophobia stems from lingering post-colonial Orientalist attitudes that fundamentally view Muslims as problematic outsiders threatening European identity. Anti-Muslim perspectives are deeply ingrained in…… Continue reading Countering Exclusion, Countering Radicalisation

Defining Radicalisation Studies

Radicalisation studies has emerged as an interdisciplinary field that aims to develop a nuanced, holistic understanding of the multidimensional process of radicalisation in contemporary societies. This field integrates theoretical and methodological insights from various disciplines, including sociology, psychology, political science, international relations, cultural anthropology, religious studies, and security studies (Neumann, 2013; Sedgwick, 2010; Heath-Kelly et…… Continue reading Defining Radicalisation Studies

The Calculated Nationalism of Suella Braverman: A Disturbing Lurch Towards Xenophobia

Last week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman delivered a speech that sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Britain. In her address, she unleashed an incendiary diatribe against immigration and multiculturalism, stirring outrage and alarm across the entire political spectrum. As a cabinet minister responsible for security and integration policy, her words carried profound weight and…… Continue reading The Calculated Nationalism of Suella Braverman: A Disturbing Lurch Towards Xenophobia

Edward Said’s Orientalism and Its Insights on Radicalisation Discourses

On 25 September 2023, it will be the twentieth anniversary of the passing of the great scholar Edward Said, a Palestinian-Christian-American literary theorist who dedicated his scholarly endeavours to examining the phenomenon of marginalisation and the portrayal of the “other” in various contexts. In his seminal work published in 1978, entitled Orientalism, the author critically…… Continue reading Edward Said’s Orientalism and Its Insights on Radicalisation Discourses

End Spying on Dutch Muslims

The recent disclosure of covert investigations conducted by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs targeting Muslims and mosques has raised significant concerns. According to NOS News, the ministry monitored mosques, gathered personal information, and surveilled members of the Muslim community, all without a valid legal justification. Furthermore, Minister Karien van Gennip has recently acknowledged in…… Continue reading End Spying on Dutch Muslims

Sweden’s Quran Burnings: Echoes of Societal Crisis

Amidst a backdrop of sanctioned Quran burnings within Sweden, driven by the nation’s freedom of expression laws, a sequence of events has been set in motion. These events carry far-reaching implications that extend beyond the confines of this Nordic land. As the government responds by elevating the terror threat level, a paradox emerges. The legislation designed to protect personal freedoms now reveals its unintended consequence: a potential compromise to the very security it aims to uphold.

“The king is dead; long live the king!”

I am sitting on my balcony in The Hague, sipping Americanos and watching King Charles III’s coronation, pondering its implications for the monarchy, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth. The last televised coronation in colour was in 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II assumed the role of monarch and head of the Commonwealth. Charles has awaited…… Continue reading “The king is dead; long live the king!”

Have a Very Merry Muslim Christmas

I have returned to the UK for a few days, and the experience has been intriguing. Each time I visit the UK, it feels like a completely different country compared to the Netherlands, where I now reside. The Dutch are predominantly Christian, with one in six having some form of ethnic heritage. In the Netherlands,…… Continue reading Have a Very Merry Muslim Christmas