Between Securitization and Secularisation: A Political Discourse Analysis on Members of Parliament in the British House of Commons and the Securitization of Islam and British Muslims.

Abstract

Dissertation Abstract Ewan Gordon 20163085 The recent wave of Islamist-inspired terrorism throughout Britain, Europe, and the Western world, as well as the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, has meant that the British Government has needed to respond to this security threat. One aspect of formulating a successful and effective security strategy is the political discourse which takes place amongst members of the elected Government when formulating the strategy to combat jihadist violence. This political discourse seeks to explain the current security context and to justify future security decisions. Thus, by understanding the foundational theoretical, philosophical, and political ideologies which underlie and influence this political discourse, future policy decisions can be better implemented. This dissertation examines the political discourse of British Members of Parliament in the House of Commons relating to the securitization of British Muslims and Islam between 2014-2017 in the context of both the recent wave of Islamist-inspired terrorism within Europe and the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The Parliamentary discourse of MPs is analysed through the political discourse framework advocated by Fairclough and influenced by Michal Foucault's concept of hegemonic "regimes of truth"....