Right-wing and liberal Islamophobia both serve imperial racism through exclusion and conditional inclusion.

Evidence

I argue that differences both in rhetoric as well as policy, such as whether to accommodate or confront, have led to different forms of Islamophobia—liberal and conservative. Both are imperial forms of racism. This chapter and the next shed light on how empire is a process. To secure its interests, the United States constantly shifts strategy and tactics. Thus, while Iraq was obliterated in the name of 9/11, Saudi Arabia was not touched even though fifteen of the nineteen hijackers were of Saudi origin. Imperial racism is strategic and purposeful, hence “good” and “bad” Muslims. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 380 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Like Obama before him, Biden faces the task of rehabilitating empire and rebuilding multinational relationships. In his article in Foreign Affairs titled “Why America Must Lead Again,” Biden has promised to do both and to restore Obama era policies. … Most significantly, Trump eschewed the “good Muslim, bad Muslim” approach (with the exception of Saudi Arabia) and opened the door to right-wing Islamophobia. Biden has rejected this approach. We might therefore expect a return to liberal Islamophobia and the accommodationist approach. However, Biden has stated his intention to continue Trump’s policy to withdraw military forces from the “forever wars” and to use drone warfare instead. … In short, as of this writing, it appears that the United States is headed into a third Obama term with a multiracial and female-heavy leadership team ensuring a process where neoliberal multiculturalism, as it has in the past, will paper over racist imperial policies. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 544 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Liberal Islamophobia includes Muslims only on imperial terms — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 89; Liberal Islamophobia and right-wing racism are interchangeable imperial instruments — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 544; Conservative and liberal Islamophobia are both forms of imperial racism. (+10 more)

Broader Connections

• Conservative and liberal Islamophobia are both forms of imperial racism. #corroborates (0.95)
• Liberal Islamophobia and right-wing racism are interchangeable imperial instruments #corroborates (0.90) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 544
• Liberal-reformist Islamophobia remains imperial racism cloaked in benevolence #corroborates (0.90) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 500
• US Islamophobia has liberal and conservative wings, both imperial #corroborates (0.90) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 380
• Islamophobia spans the political spectrum and is embedded in empire’s infrastructure #corroborates (0.90)
• Liberal Islamophobia is racist and imperialist despite its gentler rhetoric #corroborates (0.85) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 430
• Islamophobia is structural racism rooted in empire, not religious intolerance #corroborates (0.85) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 91
• Islamophobia spans liberal and conservative mainstreams, not just the fringe right #corroborates (0.85) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 91
• Liberal rhetoric can mask imperial racism as benevolence #corroborates (0.85)
• Far-right and liberal racisms mutually reinforce each other on a spectrum #corroborates (0.80) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 641
• Anti-Muslim racism remains entrenched despite Muslim inclusion in imperial systems #corroborates (0.75)