The role of racial and ethnic issues in the radicalization of Muslim youth: A comparative study of Norway and South Africa

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of racial and ethnic issues in the radicalization of Muslim youth in Norway and in South Africa. The thesis employs the methods of expert interviews, comparison and cross-cultural research to engage this interesting topic. The thesis pays particular attention to terminology and investigates meanings and use of certain terms within ongoing discourses on topics relating to race/ethnicity and radicalization. The terms which are outlined and examined in relation to the topics are “radicalism”, “fundamentalism”, “islamophobia” and “anti-muslimism”. topics related to the question are discussed and explained. I employ Critical Race Theory and useful concepts such as “identity politics” and “othering” in order to understand and critically engage the findings of the empirical data collected for this thesis. Finally, the importance of the two different contexts and their societal discourses are considered throughout the thesis, as it explores the role of race and ethnicity in the contexts of South Africa and Norway employing a comparative lens.