Fabricating Difference

This book explores how discourses shape perceptions of Islam after traumatic events, highlighting the consequences of constructing societal differences. Fabricating Difference offers critical insights.

In Fabricating Difference, the focus is on how discourses shape the understanding of Islam following traumatic events. This exploration highlights the significance of academic analyses in the construction of societal differences, which can lead to severe consequences such as violence and discrimination. The book delves into the rhetoric surrounding the portrayal of Islam and Muslims as 'others,' emphasizing the impact of these narratives on public perception and discourse.

The volume features critical analyses by esteemed scholars, including Mayanthi Fernando, who examines the implications of French laicite in the context of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack. Fernando’s work illustrates how the dominant narrative uses secularism to marginalize minority voices. Similarly, Aaron Hughes critiques how Islam is often constructed in response to violence associated with Islamic identity, shedding light on the ideological underpinnings of groups like ISIS. These analyses serve as a foundation for understanding the broader implications of constructing difference.

Additionally, ten early career scholars contribute reflections that expand on these central themes, applying them to various contexts and issues, including nationalism and the relationship between religion and non-religion. The book concludes with a comprehensive Afterword that encourages readers to recognize the processes of difference fabrication, advocating for a more nuanced engagement with both scholarship and public discourse in a politically charged environment.