This book uses Securitisation Theory to explore how Muslims have been constructed as a security issue in Africa after the 9/11 attacks in the United States. These attacks became the rationale for the US's Global War on Terror (GWOT). The centrality of Africa as an arena to execute the GWOT is the focus of this book.

This book explores, particularly, how western-centred security discourses around Muslims has permeated South African security discourse in the post-apartheid period. It claims that the popular press and the local think-tank community were critical knowledge-sites that imported rather than interrogated debates which have underpinned policy-initiatives such as the GWOT.

Such theorisation seems contrary to the original architects of securitisation theory who maintain that issues become security concerns when institutional voices declare these as such. However, this book confirms that non-institutional voices have securitised the African Muslims by equatingthem with terrorism.

This book illustrates that such securitisation reproduces partisan knowledge that promote Western interests.

Analyses the securitisation of Islam and Muslims in South Africa Confirms that Islam and Muslims in South Africa were constructed as security threats incrementally over an extended period Illustrates that the securitisation reproduces knowledge constructed in Western societies to promote specific interests

Autorentext

Dr Mohamed Natheem Hendricks, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa. His interest in security matters was sparked by debates related to Regional, Water and Human Security.

Inhalt

1. Prolegomenon: The White WidowThe Kenyan Westgate Mall Attack.- 2. The United State: Pivotal in the Terrorism Debate in Africa.- 3. Conceptualising Securitisation.- 4.The Invisible College.- 5. Expertise, Epistemes and the Construction of a Suspect Community.- 6. Writing Insecurity: Representations of Muslims and Islam in the South African Print Media.- 7. Conclusion.