Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the nature, extent, implications of, and responses to Islamophobic hate crime both nationally and internationally. It illustrates the dynamics of Islamophobic hate crime through the use of case examples in individual countries in the European context and the dynamics of Islamophobic hate crime in the US and in a global context. The book provides an analysis of how elite actors use the biopolitical discourse of hyper-masculinity in order to construct a conflict narrative between far-right groups and ‘Muslim extremist’ groups in the UK context. It explores the realities and perceptions of ethno-religious discrimination among Muslims in Scotland with respect to their everyday social interactions with the indigenous Scottish community, contact with police and security officers. The book outlines some of the key policy and legislative developments and explores the progress made by criminal justice organisations.