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Seminar 5 March 2010: The Construction of 'Suspect' Communities in Britain 1974-2007: comparing the impact on Irish and Muslim communities
This seminar will report on the first comparative research project examining the impact of counter-terrorism on Irish communities and Muslim communities in Britain. This ESRC-funded collaborative research involves academics based at London Metropolitan University and City University, London, with a long track-record of researching immigration, social cohesion, Islam, and the media.
The study investigated transformations over time in the perception, construction and representation of religio-ethnic groupings as 'suspect' in relation to terror threats in Britain from 1970s to the present day. The project examined the similarities and differences in the impact of these representations of Œsuspectness¹ and of counter-terrorism measures on Irish communities and Muslim communities. The research methods included analysis of the national and diaspora press, of legislation and parliamentary debates, and speeches and statements of British politicians and the police. The experiences and interpretations of members and representatives of Irish communities and Muslim communities in Birmingham and London were also collected using key informant interviews and discussion groups.
SEMINAR PROGRAMME:
10.30 Arrival, registration, tea and coffee
11.00 Welcome and introduction
11.15 Overview of the Project & First Findings
Prof. Mary Hickman (project director, ISET)
Chair: tbc.
12.30 Lunch
13.30 'Suspect' Communities and the British Press
Dr Lyn Thomas and Dr Henri Nickels (ISET)
Chair: tbc.
14.40 Comfort Break
14.50 Security and Counter-terrorism: Policies and Policy Actors
Dr Sara Silvestri (City University, London)
Chair: tbc
16.00 Close
To be held at the Institute for the Study of European Transformations, London Metropolitan University
NOTE: Registration is free but places are limited and allocated on a first come basis
To register please email: suspectcommunities@londonmet.ac.uk