Abstract
This chapter takes the principles developed in previous chapters concerning identity theory, political myth and discourse analysis, and applies them to three indicative case studies. These comprise: an official narrative about “multiculturalism” delivered by the former British Prime Minister, David Cameron; a critical Islamist narrative in the shape of a response to Cameron’s speech by Hizb-ut Tahrir; and a “Far Right” perspective represented by a statement by the English Defence League (EDL) about inter-community relations in contemporary Britain. All of these narratives to differing degrees display the use of language in weaving an identity politics, and the conscious development of political myth.
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Notes
- 1.
The Home Secretary of the new Coalition government elected in 2011, Theresa May, suggested this was a key factor in the Prevent review and relaunch of 2011, in which the strategy was de-coupled from the local community funding elements. See BBC (2011).
- 2.
Channel is a specific programme within the Prevent policy that designs “interventions” for those considered to be at risk of violent radicalization.
- 3.
Group discussion with Salafi prayer group, Aylesbury, 28 May 2010.
- 4.
See for example Fairclough’s notion of the “dominant bloc” in a capitalist state (Fairclough 2001:27).
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Richards, J. (2017). Identity and Security Narratives in Contemporary Britain. In: Extremism, Radicalization and Security. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55203-3_6
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