Islamophobia, Racism and Anti-Racist Resistance in Two British Cities

This paper will reflect on findings from my doctoral research, which considers organised responses to Islamophobia in two British cities: Manchester, in the North West of England, and Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Specifically, the research explores how those engaging with Islamophobia as a social problem understand its relationship to racism, and how such understandings impact on strategies for challenging Islamophobia. The paper draws primarily on data from qualitative interviews with anti-racist activists, as well as individuals working in various community organisations, in both cities. Interview data is supplemented by reflections from a number of participant observations.

Crucially, the research attempts to situate current resistance to Islamophobia historically, exploring whether participants draw on local histories of anti-racist resistance to inform their current understandings and practices, and whether and how notions of ‘Scottishness’ and ‘Britishness’ circumscribe this. In doing so, the research connects discussions of Islamophobia and anti-racist organising. Furthermore, it extends them beyond England and into Scotland, where research on both Islamophobia and anti-racist resistance has been theoretically narrow and generally much more limited.

The essential aim of the paper is therefore to reflect on the ways in which understandings of Islamophobia and its relationship to racisms (past and present) shape contemporary challenges to it. The hope is that a critical and historically grounded account of this – particularly in the context of Scotland – might open up new resources for effective resistance and solidarity today.