Loud and proud: passion and politics in the English Defence League

The book uses interviews, informal conversations and extended observation at EDL events to critically reflect on the gap between the movement's public image and activists' own understandings of it. It details how activists construct the EDL, and themselves, as 'not racist, not violent...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Pilkington, Hilary 1964- (Author)
Other Authors: Nayak, Anoop (Contributor)
Format: Electronic eBook
Language:English
Published: Manchester, England Manchester University Press 2016
Series:Knowledge Unlatched
New Ethnographies
Open Access e-Books
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Online Access:kostenfrei
Summary:The book uses interviews, informal conversations and extended observation at EDL events to critically reflect on the gap between the movement's public image and activists' own understandings of it. It details how activists construct the EDL, and themselves, as 'not racist, not violent, just no longer silent' inter alia through the exclusion of Muslims as a possible object of racism on the grounds that they are a religiously not racially defined group. In contrast activists perceive themselves to be 'second-class citizens', disadvantaged and discriminated by a 'two-tier' justice system that privileges the rights of 'others'. This failure to recognise themselves as a privileged white majority explains why ostensibly intimidating EDL street demonstrations marked by racist chanting and nationalistic flag waving are understood by activists as standing 'loud and proud'; the only way of 'being heard' in a political system governed by a politics of silencing. Unlike most studies of 'far right' movements, this book focuses not on the EDL as an organisation - its origins, ideology, strategic repertoire and effectiveness - but on the individuals who constitute the movement. Its ethnographic approach challenges stereotypes and allows insight into the emotional as well as political dimension of activism. At the same time, the book recognises and discusses the complex political and ethical issues of conducting close-up social research with 'distasteful' groups
Item Description:Includes a foreword by Anoop Nayak
Title from OAPEN webpage (viewed on 23 November 2017)
Physical Description:1 Online-Ressource (xvi, 254 Seiten) black & white illustrations
ISBN:1526114011
1784992593
1784994006
9781526114013
9781784992590
9781784994006
Access:Open Access

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