Public Intellectuals and Islamophobia in Greek Society: Entrenching the Discourses of Fear
The largest part of the existing literature with regard to Islamophobia in Greece focuses primarily on the policies, activities and discourse of politicians and political groups of the extreme right, Orthodox Church figures, state authorities, the media and the Internet. The purpose of this article...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/11/995 |
| _version_ | 1797508570016645120 |
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| author | Alexandros Sakellariou |
| author_facet | Alexandros Sakellariou |
| author_sort | Alexandros Sakellariou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The largest part of the existing literature with regard to Islamophobia in Greece focuses primarily on the policies, activities and discourse of politicians and political groups of the extreme right, Orthodox Church figures, state authorities, the media and the Internet. The purpose of this article is to cast light on an aspect which is frequently neglected in the study of Islamophobia, i.e., the role of public intellectuals, through a series of questions: Where do public intellectuals in Greece stand with regard to Islamophobia? What are the main themes in their public discourse with regard to Islam and Muslims? What is the role they play in the reproduction of Islamophobic views? Having in mind the debates over the concepts of Islamo-Fascism, Islamo-leftism, Islamophilia and Islamophobia, this article builds on the literature about the role of intellectuals in society with a special focus on their views about Islam. Analysing the discourse of three public intellectuals, the main argument is that Islamophobia in Greece is not an exclusive element of the extreme-right or the Orthodox Church. Self-proclaimed progressive or liberal intellectuals, through their public discourse, also contribute to the reproduction and entrenchment of the fear and moral panic about Islam. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:05:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33f840aba70a4c7e983059390c33e000 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:05:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-33f840aba70a4c7e983059390c33e0002023-11-23T01:17:23ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-11-01121199510.3390/rel12110995Public Intellectuals and Islamophobia in Greek Society: Entrenching the Discourses of FearAlexandros Sakellariou0School of Humanities, Hellenic Open University, 26332 Patras, GreeceThe largest part of the existing literature with regard to Islamophobia in Greece focuses primarily on the policies, activities and discourse of politicians and political groups of the extreme right, Orthodox Church figures, state authorities, the media and the Internet. The purpose of this article is to cast light on an aspect which is frequently neglected in the study of Islamophobia, i.e., the role of public intellectuals, through a series of questions: Where do public intellectuals in Greece stand with regard to Islamophobia? What are the main themes in their public discourse with regard to Islam and Muslims? What is the role they play in the reproduction of Islamophobic views? Having in mind the debates over the concepts of Islamo-Fascism, Islamo-leftism, Islamophilia and Islamophobia, this article builds on the literature about the role of intellectuals in society with a special focus on their views about Islam. Analysing the discourse of three public intellectuals, the main argument is that Islamophobia in Greece is not an exclusive element of the extreme-right or the Orthodox Church. Self-proclaimed progressive or liberal intellectuals, through their public discourse, also contribute to the reproduction and entrenchment of the fear and moral panic about Islam.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/11/995IslamophobiaGreeceintellectualspublic discoursediscourses of fear |
| spellingShingle | Alexandros Sakellariou Public Intellectuals and Islamophobia in Greek Society: Entrenching the Discourses of Fear Religions Islamophobia Greece intellectuals public discourse discourses of fear |
| title | Public Intellectuals and Islamophobia in Greek Society: Entrenching the Discourses of Fear |
| title_full | Public Intellectuals and Islamophobia in Greek Society: Entrenching the Discourses of Fear |
| title_fullStr | Public Intellectuals and Islamophobia in Greek Society: Entrenching the Discourses of Fear |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public Intellectuals and Islamophobia in Greek Society: Entrenching the Discourses of Fear |
| title_short | Public Intellectuals and Islamophobia in Greek Society: Entrenching the Discourses of Fear |
| title_sort | public intellectuals and islamophobia in greek society entrenching the discourses of fear |
| topic | Islamophobia Greece intellectuals public discourse discourses of fear |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/11/995 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexandrossakellariou publicintellectualsandislamophobiaingreeksocietyentrenchingthediscoursesoffear |