Anti-racism in Crisis: exploring (anti-)racism, Islamophobia, and social movements in contemporary Britain

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Over the last few years, the idea of 'anti-racism' has gained popular appeal. Public debates around anti-racism in Britain have tended to focus on anti-Black racism - with the explosion of the Black Lives Matter movement - and Antisemitism, particularly in relation to the Labour Party. Much less has been said about anti-racism and the issue of Islamophobia. How is Islamophobia best understood in relation to racism? How do we respond to Islamophobia in an 'anti-racist' way? And how are these questions relevant for those on the political 'left' in Britain today? The proposed research responds to such questions by bringing together a number of issues in contemporary society: Islamophobia, racism, anti-racism, and left-wing social movements.My doctoral (PhD) research involved interviews with anti-racist activists and third sector community workers in the two cities of Glasgow and Manchester. It was concerned with, firstly, how these actors understood the problem of Islamophobia, and its relationship to racism. Secondly, how these understandings shaped and reflected their practical responses as activists and workers 'on the ground'. And thirdly, whether these understandings and responses differed in relation to place; in other words, between the two cities. A number of key findings came out of my doctoral research, and the proposed programme of research aims to extend and share them in a variety of ways. Over the course of the fellowship I will build on my doctoral research to write two academic articles, a co-authored book chapter, and an academic book proposal. These writing projects will all contribute to my wider research agenda, which aims to use the discipline of sociology to enhance our understanding of anti-racism - an issue in contemporary society that is increasingly a topic of public debate, but not often a focus of academic concern. The proposed research therefore has a clear political as well as academic purpose, aiming to shed light on anti-racist practices in order to make positive interventions into grassroots and institutional responses to racism.In addition to the above writing projects, I will produce an engaging and accessible podcast for public audiences. Hosted online, the podcast will feature interviews with activists and academics to explore two key topics: Islamophobia on the political left, and the work of Muslim activists in these same networks and spaces. Accompanying the podcast will be a public discussion event; an opportunity for academics, activists, and others concerned with challenging racism and Islamophobia to come together to discuss the issues raised in the podcast, and look towards developing more effective practical responses.Issues of racism and anti-racism are not just limited to a British context. As recent Black Lives Matter protests demonstrated, racism is a global problem that calls for global forms of resistance. The proposed programme of research will therefore also engage with international audiences. For example, I will share my research findings with academic colleagues in the United States for the first time, by attending and participating in the ASA (American Sociological Association) annual conference in August 2022.Finally, the proposed programme of research will support my professional development as I pursue a career in academia. A small portion of the fellowship will therefore be dedicated to enhancing my teaching skills and to applying for further funding for future research on anti-racism in Britain and beyond.