A Case Study of the Political Determinants of Division: Muslim Perceptions of British Combat Troops

Abstract

This chapter analyses and discusses the political determinants that have given rise to radicalisation in the West. The authors contend that Muslims residing in the UK hold stigmatising views towards British combat troops (and vice versa), thus promoting division as opposed to peaceful coexistence. The fact that many of the participants in our sample agreed or strongly agreed that social contact with service personnel or veterans would positively influence perceptions towards them is encouraging. By addressing, and rectifying, the problems with UK foreign policy, the British Armed Forces might come to be perceived by Muslims as a legitimate branch of the government's Ministry of Defence and not as aggressors who occupy Muslim majority states. British Muslims may then feel duty-bound to protect their fellow citizens by joining the Armed Forces. Terrorist organisations have launched seductive propaganda campaigns to recruit foreign fighters. The British Armed Forces clearly need to enhance their recruitment strategy to enlist more Muslims in the effort to defeat terrorism than the number of militants Daesh enrolls for its cause. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)