The Muslim Paranoia Narrative

The issue of radicalization is at the forefront of policy debates as ISIS continues to draw recruits from Western democracies. Recent summits on countering violent extremism have sought to highlight the importance of undermining extremist narratives, mobilizing moderate Muslims who oppose ISIS, and working to address underlying drivers of radicalization. Yet representatives of Muslim communities have met this approach with considerable skepticism, both in Western states and across the Muslim world. A common complaint is that Muslims are singled out and caricatured as a unique danger, which only increases the level of vilification experienced by Muslims.