The problem of Islamophobia in the west in the context of securitization

This study aims to reveal why and how the political and bureaucratic elites and institutions in Western countries consider Islam and Muslims as a security threat to the West. This threat approach, which is considered based on Islamophobia, is analyzed within the theoretical framework of the securitization theory. The study also tries to explain when and with what results the problem, which is the other questions of the theory, is securitized. In this context, the discourses of the actors, official government statements, enacted laws and institutional practices will be analyzed within a process. The analysis covers general securitization cases in the United States and Europe from September 11, 2001 to December, 2022. In the study, it has been seen that securitizing actors securitize Islam and Muslims on the grounds that they pose a threat to military, political and social reference objects by associating them with the problems of migration and terrorism. While these actors were evaluating immigration and terrorism problems, they found discourses targeting Islam and Muslims and continued this with the policies and legal regulations they put forward. The Western society, which audience these securitization steps targeting Muslims, either approved or remained unresponsive, allowing the process to continue. In addition, it was concluded that securitizing actors preferred the Islamophobic securitization approach as a tool of power, to ensure social cohesion and to discipline/assimilate Muslims. It has been observed that the actors have adopted a desecuritization approach with moderate Islam, European Islam or each state's unique understanding of Islam as a solution to the threat of Islam and Muslims. The most important result of this securitization process is the emergence of Muslims who have neither assimilated nor understood Islam. This shows that if Muslims are not fully disciplined/assimilated, the system always produces its own threat.