The Emergence of 'Extremism'

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The belief that expressing radical views predicts future political violence has shaped counter-extremism efforts for two decades, placing a burden on professionals like doctors and teachers to report such beliefs. This book argues that this concept is fundamentally flawed. Drawing from his experiences with the UK's Prevent programme in a Muslim community, Rob Faure Walker examines the rise of 'extremism' in political language and its potentially harmful effects. By integrating critical discourse analysis and critical realism, he reveals how the fear of being labeled an 'extremist' can lead to counter-terrorism strategies that undermine democratic moderation. The analysis highlights how the language of counter-extremism may inadvertently promote violence, emphasizing the need to recognize and transcend the oppressive qualities of such language. The work critiques damaging elements of the global War on Terror embedded in everyday discourse and political language. Through the author’s successful advocacy against counter-extremism measures, the book offers a model for how discourse analysis and critical realism can engage politically to foster meaningful change.