Author: Bridge Initiative Team / Political Geography: Europe

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 08-2024
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Rishi Sunak was the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party, the first British-Indian to be prime minister and when elected, the youngest holder of the office in modern times. As leader of the party and the head of state, Sunak failed to tackle Islamophobia both within the party and amongst wider British society.
Topic:: Politics, Islamophobia, Political Parties, and Rishi Sunak
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 02-2023
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Giorgia Meloni was elected Prime Minister of Italy in 2022. In 2012, she co-founded the neo-fascist Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy), which she has been leading since 2014. Since 2020, she has been the president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR). Meloni is known for making many anti-Muslim comments during her election campaigns.
Topic:: Migration, Islamophobia, Far Right, Muslims, Giorgia Meloni, and Alt-Right
Political Geography:: Europe and Italy

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 02-2023
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: The Vienna Forum on Countering Segregation and Extremism in the Context of Integration was initiated by Austrian Minister of Women and Integration Susanne Raab (ÖVP) to make Vienna “a center in the fight against political Islam.” Eleven European countries are part of the conference. Once a year, the forum brings together ministers and bureaucrats from several European countries alongside hundreds of terrorism and deradicalization experts, some of whom are known to advocate for policies that criminalize Muslim civil society.
Topic:: Islamophobia, Integration, Regional Organizations, and Susanne Raab
Political Geography:: Europe and Austria

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 03-2023
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Manfred Weber is a German politician who has served as President of the European People’s Party (EPP) since 2022, and as Leader of the EPP Group in the European Parliament since 2014. He has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Germany since 2004. He is a member of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), which is a member of the EPP. Weber has made statements alleging that Muslims and Islam are a threat to European culture.
Topic:: European Union, Islamophobia, Catholic Church, Xenophobia, Christian Social Union, and European People's Party (EPP)
Political Geography:: Europe, Germany, and Austria

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 04-2023
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Magnus Ranstorp is an associate professor of political science. Since 2022, he has been the head of research at the Center for Total Defense and Societal Security (CTSS). He regularly publishes opinion pieces and is invited to media outlets as an expert on various subjects. Ranstorp has promoted conspiracy theories accusing European Muslim organizations of being tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, and is a leading voice against Muslim civil society in Sweden.
Topic:: Islamophobia, Islamism, Muslim Brotherhood, and Magnus Ranstorp
Political Geography:: Europe and Sweden

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 05-2023
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Sameh Egyptson is a Swedish academic and highly visible public commentator. He is hired as an expert by public agencies and right-wing political parties. Egyptson is engaged in spreading conspiracy theories about an alleged Islamization of Sweden by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Topic:: Islamophobia, Academia, Muslim Brotherhood, and Sameh Egyptson
Political Geography:: Europe and Sweden

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 07-2023
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Friedrich Merz is a German politician. In 2022, he became the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and leader of the CDU parliamentary group in the German federal parliament, the Bundestag. He has made anti-Muslim comments and represents the conservative right-wing camp within his party.
Topic:: Domestic Politics, Islamophobia, and Friedrich Merz
Political Geography:: Europe and Germany

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 08-2023
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Stop Extremism is a Europe-wide initiative demanding a stronger fight against extremism. It wants to introduce a joint EU-wide watch list of individuals and organizations that are labeled as extremists. A number of its proponents and supporters have a history of making discriminatory claims about Muslims and supporting anti-Muslim legislation in the name of defending liberal values.
Topic:: Violent Extremism, European Union, Discrimination, Islamophobia, and Muslims
Political Geography:: Europe

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 10-2023
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Sigrid Herrmann-Marschall is a widely quoted German blogger, who is often invited as an expert on Islamism. She regularly argues that the government needs to take stricter measures to tackle Islamism in German society. She frequently lectures, trains, and publishes in a variety of newspapers and is referenced as an expert by many political parties including the far-right. More recently, she reportedly served as an expert on behalf of the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Topic:: Domestic Politics, Islamophobia, Far Right, Islamism, and Sigrid Herrmann-Marschall
Political Geography:: Europe and Germany

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 10-2022
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Susanne Raab is the current Minister of Women and Integration of Austria. She joined the government of Sebastian Kurz of the Austrian People’s Party, which was responsible for many anti-Muslim legislations that have meanwhile been rescinded by various courts. Raab has been a key figure in supporting anti-Muslim policies in Austria.
Topic:: Domestic Politics, Islamophobia, Muslims, and Susanne Raab
Political Geography:: Europe and Austria

Refine your search