Research project
Countering Islamophobia Through the Development of Best Practice in the use of Counter-Narratives in EU Member States
- Start date: 1 January 2017
- End date: 31 December 2018
- Funder: European Commission
- Value: €637,512
- Primary investigator: 00037142
- Co-investigators: Professor S. Sayyid
The overall aim of the project is to compare the operation of counter-narratives to Muslim hatred in 8 EU member states in order to examine their use and effectiveness in terms of providing alternatives to prevailing narratives of hate and hostility and reducing racism. The more specific objectives are to
- Describe and explain the discursive content and forms that Muslim hatred takes in each state context.
- Describe and explain the legal and policy context in which counter-narratives operate in each context.
- Identify and analyse European frameworks, rules and decisions with regard to the development and specification of counter-narratives.
- Explore the development, content, utilisation and impact of counter-narratives in each member state context.
- Explore a range of outcomes including influence on public opinion and specific audiences including media and local decision-makers.
- Compare practices and outcomes in the use of counter-narratives across member states.
- Identify best practice in the implementation and operation of counter-narratives.
- To disseminate project findings and best practice to range of policy makers and practitioners at EU level and in EU member states.
Impact
Key messages and associated outputs have been disseminated to policy makers, professionals and practitioners both across the EU and to member/regional audiences using a range of mediums and activities. T
he Advisory Group has assisted in distilling messages from the Action. The project has increased knowledge and awareness of these issues amongst a range of targeted audiences.
Presentation of the project was made at the European Parliament, and national workshops in eight countries were held in 2018 to disseminate results.
The latest technologies have been used to enhance the effective circulation of information and materials including social media. A dedicated website has been setup and managed by the project manager. The production of a non-academic summary, a policy-maker blog, Twitter feeds and other social media communications have been used as the basis for the PR and social media strategy for this project.
Impact on academic/non-academic audiences is to be facilitated through publication of a book and journal articles in 2019/2020.
The project has raised awareness about how to engage with and challenge Islamophobia, and also the rights deriving from EU law, and it has elaborated and disseminated the best human rights practices to counter discrimination and addressed the EU-wide challenge of equal social inclusion of religious minorities.
Publications and outputs
Law, I., Easat-Daas, A., Merali, A. and Sayyid, S. (eds.) 2019 forthcoming Countering Islamophobia in Europe. Basingstoke: Palgrave,
See website for all reports and the primary output: the Counter Islamophobia Kit.