Based on ethnographic research in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany, this book presents a novel approach to studying Muslim militant activism. While much existing research focuses on the process of radicalization, these authors introduce a different set of questions that investigate specific modes of activism, and their engagement with dominant discourses and practices in media and state policies. Drawing on social movement theory and Foucault’s work on counter-conduct, this research explores how daʿwa networks came about, and how activists developed themselves in interaction with state and media practices. This perspective highlights a form of activism and resistance in which activists turn against policies and debates centring on Muslims and Islam, while attempting to create and protect an alternative space for themselves in which they can experience Islam according to their own perception of it.
The study will contribute to debates about resistance, social movements and militant activism among Muslims in Europe.
Author(s): Martijn de Koning, Carmen Becker, Ineke Roex
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 362
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
1: Introduction: Conducting Research on Militant Activist Da˓wa in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany
From a Radicalisation Perspective to a Relational Approach to Militant Activism
Securitisation, Secularism and Integration
Militant Activism as Resistance: Counter-conduct, Daʿwa and Spectacles
Ethics and Research Strategy in Politicised Environments
Emotions and Identity Work in Fieldwork: ‘Being There’
The Boundaries of Research: Reciprocity
The Dynamics in the Field: Trust and Empathy
Producing Knowledge About Muslims
On Data and Method
Notes and Acknowledgement
Reading Guide
Note on Anonymity and Privacy
Note on Transcription
References
2: Iconic Resistance: Germany
The Socio-political Context of the German Networks: ‘Zusammen gegen den gewaltbereiten Salafismus’
The Rise of the German Networks
Dissociating, Fighting and Hating
Dissemination: Social Media and ‘Real Life’ Activism
Militant Activist Repertoire: Connective Action, Spectacle Activism, Solidarity and Space Claiming
Street Da‘wa as Connective Action
Spectacle Activism: Seeking Confrontation
Solidarity with Muslim Prisoners
Help for Muslims in Need
Claiming One’s Own Space
The Demise of the Militant Da˓wa Networks
References
3: “Making the Unbelievers Angry”: Sharia4Belgium
The Political and Social Context Surrounding Sharia4Belgium
The Police and the Justice Department
Anti-radicalisation Policy in the Community
Anti-radicalisation Policy in Cities
Measures Against Sharia4Belgium
Responses from Islamic Civil Society to Radicalisation and Anti-radicalisation Policy
The Rise and Development of Sharia4Belgium
Authority and Membership
The Departure for Syria
The Politico-religious Ambitions of Sharia4Belgium
The Fight Against Injustice and for an Islamic State
The Significance of Practising Openly
Building Up and Breaking Down Authority
Takfir, Monitoring and Suspicion as Divisive Factors
Collaboration, Conflict and Transnational Links
Creating a Spectacle
‘Let’s Turn Belgium into an Islamic State’
Morel “Into the Dustbin of History Along with Hitler and Stalin”
Disruption of the ‘Long Live God, Down with Allah’ Lecture, University of Antwerp, March 2010
‘Niqab Riots’ in Molenbeek (Brussels, May 2012)
Activism and Recreational Pursuits
The End of Sharia4Belgium: ‘The Time for da‘wa Is Past’ and the Significance of the hijra to Syria
References
4: ‘The War Has Begun’: The Dutch Networks
The Socio-political Context of the Dutch Networks
The Ideology of Integration
Securitisation and Anti-radicalisation
The Opposing Voices from Muslim Communities
The Rise of Behind Bars, Street Dawah and Sharia4Holland
Free Saddik Sbaa: The ‘War on Terror’, Friendship and Mobilisation
Towards Street Dawah
‘This Is Exactly What We Need!’: The Rise of Sharia4Holland
‘Different Priorities’: Transformations in the Activist Daʿwa Networks in 2012 and 2013
Democracy and Hypocrisy
The Banner
The War Has Begun
Authoritative Alternatives
‘The True Religion’
The Superiority of the Alternative: al-Awlaki
Daʿwa: Creating Visibility on the Street and in the Media
Connective Mobilisation
Fluid Networks
Spectacle and Disruption
Solidarity with Islamic Prisoners: Imprisoned in the ‘War on Terror’
The Collapse of the Dutch Networks
References
5: The Production of ‘Radicals’: ‘Steadfast Warriors’ in the Netherlands
Performing Steadfastness: The ‘Battle for Hondius’
The Flag Spectacle
The ‘Battle’
‘Lions’: The Iconicity of ‘Hondius’
The Case of Abu Muhammed and What It Means to Be a ‘Fighter’
The Collapse of ‘Radical’ Subjectivity
References
6: A Comparative Discussion: The Counter-conducts of Militant Muslim Activists
Introduction
Authority and Structure
Ideology and Religion
Alternative Worlds and Styles of Activism
The Dynamics Within the Networks
‘Radical’ Subjects
The Strategies of the Daʿwa Activists
Reject
Reverse
Accommodate
Evade
The Politicisation and De-politicisation of the Message of Militant Daʿwa
The Mixed Meanings of Resistance
References
Glossary
Index
