In Conversation: Palestine and Decoloniality
New Books in Critical Theory
Deep Dive
How does Dr. Hatim Bazian define Islamophobia?
Islamophobia is viewed as a form of racism, rooted in colonial discourse and coloniality, with a long history of racialization and racial projects. It is also linked to the rise of violence and extremism in the Muslim world, which is often used to justify anti-Muslim attitudes in the West.
Why does Dr. Hatim Bazian argue that violence in the Muslim world is often constructed?
He argues that violence in the Muslim world is constructed to problematize Muslims and demand assimilation or acculturation. It serves as a discourse to justify interventionist policies and draw on resources, framing the Muslim as uniquely predisposed to violence.
What role does Dr. Hatim Bazian attribute to Israel in the Islamophobia discourse?
Israel has instrumentalized Islamophobia to reorient itself as a strategic ally in a unipolar world post-Cold War. It has hitched its wagon to the Islamophobic discourse, using it to assert its centrality in the fight against terrorism and to rationalize its strategic utility to Western states.
How does Dr. Hatim Bazian suggest Muslims can assert their political agency in the West?
Muslims can assert their political agency through movements like Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS), which challenge the systemic erasure and marginalization they face. He emphasizes the importance of strategic focus and effective use of limited resources to work towards justice.
Why does Dr. Hatim Bazian believe Islamophobia has become hegemonic?
Islamophobia has become hegemonic because it is now the engine by which societal structures are regulated and directed. It affects financial services, media, privacy, and even education, creating a pervasive Islamophobic social, political, and cultural imaginary.
What does Dr. Hatim Bazian say about the relationship between Islamophobia and neoliberalism?
He argues that Islamophobia is used as a scapegoat to avoid addressing the economic disasters of neoliberalism and globalization. By focusing on Islam and Muslims as the problem, societies can avoid confronting the real issues of collapsing incomes and environmental destruction.
How does Dr. Hatim Bazian link Islamophobia to the strategic interests of Western powers?
Islamophobia serves Western strategic interests by demonizing Muslims and creating a threat narrative that justifies imperial projects. The Muslim world, with its strategic resources like oil and waterways, becomes a convenient target for Western intervention and control.
What does Dr. Hatim Bazian say about the role of Jewish groups in combating Islamophobia?
He acknowledges that while some Jewish groups, like Jewish Voice for Peace, are actively working against Islamophobia and Zionism, the state of Israel has largely embraced Islamophobia to assert its strategic utility in a unipolar world.
Why does Dr. Hatim Bazian believe Muslims have succeeded in the West?
Muslims have succeeded despite the systemic racism, arrogance, and violence they face, not because of it. Their success is a testament to their resilience and ability to overcome monumental challenges in the face of constant erasure and marginalization.
What does Dr. Hatim Bazian suggest as a strategic tool for challenging systemic Islamophobia?
He suggests using the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement as a strategic tool to challenge systemic Islamophobia. BDS is an effective way to organize and focus limited resources on dismantling the structures that perpetuate Islamophobia and support apartheid policies.
- Different approaches to defining Islamophobia exist, including acculturation, assimilation, decolonial perspectives, and its framing as a form of racism.
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering the historical context of colonialism and racialization in understanding Islamophobia.
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