Right-wing Islamophobes are structurally embedded rather than marginal figures

Evidence

In this chapter I argue that the right-wing Islamophobes are not a fringe minority but rather part and parcel of the structures of mainstream American society. Like Senator Joseph McCarthy before them, the new McCarthyites play a collective role in ramping up fear and hatred against Muslims, with the full consent of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Just as McCarthy was enabled by a political system that found his antics useful in the prosecution of the Cold War, the new McCarthyites of today are useful in pushing the envelope and advancing the War on Terror. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 34

Categorization

• XREF: Mirrors Grosfoguel/Rana/Selod/Iftikhar claim that Islamophobia is institutionalized, not just individual prejudice. — connects to: The media’s attraction materially amplifies professional Islamophobes’ reach — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 493; Among American Muslims who said it has become more difficult to be a Muslim in the U.S. in recent years, the second most-answered reason for this was ‘negative media portrayals.’ In addition, 53% of Americans think that coverage of Islam and Muslims by American news organizations is generally unfair to Muslims and Islam. However, it is not just the media that is guilty of this tainted image of jihad. Islamophobes also have a hand in the way jihad is portrayed to the American public. Prominent Islamophobes like Pamela Gellar, Robert Spencer, Daniel Pipes, Steven Emerson, and Frank Gaffney, as well as others, portray jihad as Muslims’ attempt to force non-Muslims to convert to Islam and eradicate those who refuse. They establish non-governmental organizations and carry out campaigns dedicated to the portrayal of Islam as a violent religion and use their own interpretation of jihad as proof.; Islamophobic power can deploy oppositional tactics to advance Muslim marginalization (+22 more)

Broader Connections

• Islamophobia is systemic and institutionalized, not merely individual prejudice #expands (0.70) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 641
• Islamophobia predates organized networks and serves structural functions across the political spectrum #expands (0.60)
• Private media Islamophobia extends rather than deviates from state structural Islamophobia #expands (0.60) — Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Understanding…, 375
• Islamophobia is increasingly theorized as a form of racism rather than mere religious prejudice #corroborates (0.60)
• Islamophobia is political rather than religious and must be fought politically #expands (0.50) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 576