The English Defense League: Marginalised or simply Islamophobic

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

Declaration

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Abstract

The aim of the study was accomplished using definite and realistic objectives that could improve upon the study and build upon the existing literature and methodologies in order to achieve the aims of the research. The EDL was formed in June 2009 and has held several demonstrations against radical Islam. If its leaders generally want to say “peacefully denounce Islamic extremism”, anti Muslim slogans are chanted regularly at such gatherings. It adopted as the emblem a red cross on a white recalling both the cross of Saint George - the symbol of England's popular local extreme right-and the Knights Templar, soldier-monks who were leaving for the Crusades. This project used a mixed research strategy incorporating both a qualitative and quantitative research methods with a secondary based approach. The anti-war protest was the final straw for disenfranchised, white working class males who angry that Muslims had the audacity to stage a demonstration; recognised as a mockery to British culture. The clash of civilisation between the white-working class community and Muslims was a ticking time bomb, cultural tension were rife in Luton prior to the homecoming march. A shift in the cultural tension between polarised groups was in the era of terrorist attacks, Luton was publically known as breeding ground for terrorist and the organisation terror.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTIONI

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEWVIII

Theoretical Approachviii

Fascismxiii

Mussolini and Hitler's Nazismxv

Far-Right and its influence over Conservatismxviii

The Consequences of Social Movementsxxi

Capitalism, Patriotism and Postmodernismxxvi

English Defence League and Islamophobiaxxxii

The Rise of the English Defence Leaguexxxviii

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGYXLII

Research Strategyxlii

Secondary Researchxliii

Surveyxlvi

Samplingxlvii

Reliability and Validityxlviii

Benefits and Limitationsl

Research Focusli

Case Studyli

Samplingliii

Reliability and Validityliv

Benefits and Limitationslv

CHAPTER 4: DATA FINDINGSLVIII

Inside The EDL: Populist Politics in a Digital Agelviii

Case Study Findings based on Ethnographylxii

CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISLXXV

Islamophobia: A Clash of Civilisationlxxv

Fascism: A Product of Capitalismlxxviii

The Era of Neo-Capitalismlxxxi

Reflections on Fascism, Islamophobia and marginalisationlxxxiv

Structural Obstacles to Offender Reintegrationlxxxv

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONLXXXIX

REFERENCESXCIII

Chapter 1: Introduction

The United Kingdom has long remained a host to many Muslim communities who entered the region with their own personal, professional and other purposes. However, living a life as a Muslim in a community like that of the Britain was never been easy and convenient. There are some social movements spreading concerns about the propagation of Islamic values in the region of the United Kingdom, thus, creating hatred and hostility among the Britisher and the Muslims. The result is a wide-spreading hatred for the Muslim World that has mainly been unjustifiably aggressive. One such protest movement that has been very popular with the masses is the English Defence League (EDL, ...