Book description
The 7/7 London bombings shocked the UK, and subsequent plots have
highlighted the Islamist terrorist threat. How should we understand such
home-grown terrorism, and how successful since 2005 have policy attempts
to 'prevent violent extremism' been? This is a classic monograph
focusing on recent British attempts to 'prevent violent extremism',
their problems and limitations, and what lessons this can offer for more
effective policy approaches in future. The author's extensive research,
particularly with young people in the North of England, suggests that
the Prevent policy approaches and the wider CONTEST counter-terrorism
strategy have been misguided and ineffective, further alienating British
Muslim communities rather than supporting longer-term attempts to
encourage cohesion and integration. In particular, the book examines
policy approaches to the threat of Islamist extremism and far-right
racism, in the context of a post-2001 shift in Britain's attitude and
policy approach to multiculturalism, to distinct ethnic and faith
identities and to the state's relations with ethnic communities. The
book argues for new, community cohesion-based approaches that see
greater trust and integration across all communities as the best defence
against terrorism. 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 Paul Thomas is Reader in Youth
and Education at the School of Education and Professional Development,
University of Huddersfield, UK. He was formerly Youth Campaigns Officer
at the Commission for Racial Equality in the north of England, and
published Youth, Multiculturalism and Community Cohesion (2011).
