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The Muslims are Coming!: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror by Arun Kundnani
mdaalder's review against another edition
5.0
In "The Muslims are Coming!", Arun Kundnani dispels with liberal and conservative notions alike regarding the origins of terrorism and instead advances a compelling (and classical leftist) theory: that "Islamic" terrorism is a result of Western foreign policy and domestic repression of Muslim politics. The book is focused on the United States and the United Kingdom and the first part deals with the methods these governments use to dampen Muslim political expression. From surveillance and the UK's Channel project to FBI sting operations, the totality of the West's horrifying anti-Muslim repression is laid bare (briefly) by Kundnani.
The core of the book focuses on dismantling the "radicalization" narrative. Kundnani examines the notion adopted by liberals in the late 2000's that the radicalization of domestic terrorists is a psychoideological phenomenon, and concludes that it is instead rooted in politics and class. This banishes classic theories that underlie the conduct of the War on Terror, and is the most important and interesting part of the book, by far.
In his conclusion, Kundnani reconciles these two ideas, synthesizing the prosecution of the domestic war on terror with the failed radicalization narrative to provide a holistic view of this war. Definitely recommended!
The core of the book focuses on dismantling the "radicalization" narrative. Kundnani examines the notion adopted by liberals in the late 2000's that the radicalization of domestic terrorists is a psychoideological phenomenon, and concludes that it is instead rooted in politics and class. This banishes classic theories that underlie the conduct of the War on Terror, and is the most important and interesting part of the book, by far.
In his conclusion, Kundnani reconciles these two ideas, synthesizing the prosecution of the domestic war on terror with the failed radicalization narrative to provide a holistic view of this war. Definitely recommended!
drbooknerd's review against another edition
5.0
I purchased this book in Feb 2017 after seeing Arun and several other journalistic personalities, including one of my favorite independent journalists (Mehreen Kasana) speak at a panel at Verso Books (which was involved with the final in New York City entitled "The Muslim Ban: How We Got Here and Where We Go Next."
This is of course a must read for anyone wanting to know how the US and UK governments have been conducting the so-called "war on terror" in great detail and the ramping up of the fear-induced Islamophobic environment that we have been living in for what seems like an eternity, to those of us under the microscope of suspicion at least. American and British readers from the Muslim community will be well-versed and familiar with many of the cases, but most importantly the related subversive acts, the dishonesty, rather than just the incidents at face value that you might see in the headlines in the morning.
This has included entrapping vulnerable individuals in covert operations under the pre-tense of preventing attacks and thus keeping the general populace on edge, full of hate and ignorance. This hit home several times in my case, as my community was affected by one such example.
I know that my fellow Muslims or those appeared to be sadly, have been targets, have lived-on-edge, as I have, since 9/11 with the subsequent federal policies that have caused false accusations, false narratives of their own creation. I don't know if those on the outside realize this, but as is made clear by the cases and policy detailed by the author in the book, the deceitful games that governments and agencies have been playing, does not come as news or as a surprise to those of us affected by those very policies.
This book is heart-breaking when thinking about the young lives that have been ruined, rooted in ill-fated foreign policy of Western powers, which leads to the previously-mentioned confused, disillusioned youths that fall prey to ugly forces that have formed as a result of the wars conducted by those very powers. Sadly a viscous cycle.
The other emotion that is elicited is deep anger and frustration.
Despite the negative results, as we can all see plainly, these poor choices have continued on to the present day, which the author laments: "the machinery of mass surveillance, racialized criminalization and extra-judicial killing presses on"
This is of course a must read for anyone wanting to know how the US and UK governments have been conducting the so-called "war on terror" in great detail and the ramping up of the fear-induced Islamophobic environment that we have been living in for what seems like an eternity, to those of us under the microscope of suspicion at least. American and British readers from the Muslim community will be well-versed and familiar with many of the cases, but most importantly the related subversive acts, the dishonesty, rather than just the incidents at face value that you might see in the headlines in the morning.
This has included entrapping vulnerable individuals in covert operations under the pre-tense of preventing attacks and thus keeping the general populace on edge, full of hate and ignorance. This hit home several times in my case, as my community was affected by one such example.
I know that my fellow Muslims or those appeared to be sadly, have been targets, have lived-on-edge, as I have, since 9/11 with the subsequent federal policies that have caused false accusations, false narratives of their own creation. I don't know if those on the outside realize this, but as is made clear by the cases and policy detailed by the author in the book, the deceitful games that governments and agencies have been playing, does not come as news or as a surprise to those of us affected by those very policies.
This book is heart-breaking when thinking about the young lives that have been ruined, rooted in ill-fated foreign policy of Western powers, which leads to the previously-mentioned confused, disillusioned youths that fall prey to ugly forces that have formed as a result of the wars conducted by those very powers. Sadly a viscous cycle.
The other emotion that is elicited is deep anger and frustration.
Despite the negative results, as we can all see plainly, these poor choices have continued on to the present day, which the author laments: "the machinery of mass surveillance, racialized criminalization and extra-judicial killing presses on"
shadowrocks8's review against another edition
4.0
Great book for understanding the damage of the war on terror.
hannaaaaa's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I highly recommend this book for everyone, but particularly non Muslims and non Middle Easterners in the current political and social climate of revenge mosque attacks and rising Islamophobia and racism towards Arabs. This book offers valuable opinions and insight into Kundnani’s own perspective without offering many answers, rather explanation as to how we found ourselves here and reflecting on the current circumstances.
It’s primary thesis proposes that the West has two attitudes to Islam, the conservative reaction to 9/11 being that Islam itself is the problem and it never experienced a cultural enlightenment, and the second, liberal, attitude being that Islam itself is peaceful and it is certain bad Muslims that have twisted it to become anti-Western. Kundnani states that the debate about Islamic terrorism has become overwhelmed by socio-psychological and theological analyses of its perpetrators, viewing it as either an Islamic or psychological phenomenon that can be explained by the teachings of the religion or the psychological states of the terrorists themselves.
Whilst offering valuable and informative perspective, The Muslims are Coming! can become convoluted with repetitive paragraphs and therefore has a slower pace, but is still an important read for those seeking to expand and challenge their own political and sociological critiques and perspectives.
It’s primary thesis proposes that the West has two attitudes to Islam, the conservative reaction to 9/11 being that Islam itself is the problem and it never experienced a cultural enlightenment, and the second, liberal, attitude being that Islam itself is peaceful and it is certain bad Muslims that have twisted it to become anti-Western. Kundnani states that the debate about Islamic terrorism has become overwhelmed by socio-psychological and theological analyses of its perpetrators, viewing it as either an Islamic or psychological phenomenon that can be explained by the teachings of the religion or the psychological states of the terrorists themselves.
Whilst offering valuable and informative perspective, The Muslims are Coming! can become convoluted with repetitive paragraphs and therefore has a slower pace, but is still an important read for those seeking to expand and challenge their own political and sociological critiques and perspectives.
n_nazir's review against another edition
4.0
A very sober view of the 'war on terror' and how it's playing out. Interesting research and thoughtfully put together. What's depressing is, partly the level of surveillance and contractions of individual rights, but mostly that there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. The politics of today hardly lend themselves to increases in reasoning and discourse.
sanareading's review against another edition
5.0
really great book ! i think if i were to recommend a person read any one book about islamophobia it would be this one (as opposed to islamophobia and the politics of empire). kundnani doesnt go as much into the imperialist aspect of islamophobia as kumar does, but he thoroughly counters the myth that muslims are / can be predisposed to terrorism and uses that to reject the current modes of counterterrorism practiced primarily by the fbi, nypd, and mi5. i was really surprised to learn about the parallels between cointelpro and cve surveillance in the US. learned a lot feeling very enlightened (and upset) !