Institutionalised Islamophobia in British universities

Tyrer, D

Abstract

This thesis is a conceptual study of institutionalised Islamophobia in British universities. My
analysis is illustrated, although not driven, by exemplars drawn from fieldwork undertaken in
four case study universities.
The thesis is situated in the paradoxical context of increasing provisions for Muslim students
that occurred throughout the 1990s while simultaneously fears of Muslim student
'fundamentalism' on campus were also on the increase and resulted in targeted action by the
National Union of Students, the Committee for Vice-Chancellors and Principals, and a number
of individual universities concerned about the possible threat to campus harmony posed by
Muslim students.
Employing a conceptual vocabulary influenced by anti-foundationalism and psychoanlysis, I
explore the ways in which racialised governmentality is exercised over Muslim students. This
analysis includes consideration of the functions of formal multiculturalist practices as
strategies for the governance of bodies, and through which racialised exercise of disciplinary
power over Muslim students can be exercised. The thesis begins with a general
consideration of the reasons why perceived distinct changes to the ways in which Muslims
articulate their identities should so often be seen as potentially transgressive or disruptive, It
then proceeds to an analysis of the ways in which Muslim students are constructed through
institutional practices, paying particular attention to strategies for stabilising representations of
Muslims, whiteness and the west which range from lslamophobic hoaxing to lslamophobic
violence.

Citation

Tyrer, D. Institutionalised Islamophobia in British universities. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Aug 1, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 1, 2011
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2003