Since we're beginning this semester's foray into the political economy of the MENA region in the context of the recent attacks in France, it seems appropriate to start off with some critical reflection on the emerging narrative (which is all too familiar by now).
The following links give some reason for reflection on the fundamental assumptions that are automatically employed whenever attacks like these are carried out in the name of Islam. Those of you who are fond of number crunching can reflect on whether empirical data on terrorism and general threat to human life corresponds with the American (and European for that matter) public's sense of what they should be afraid of...
The articles below give you some sense of the kind of critical questioning of the broader 'common sense' that I want you to do in your critical reassessment study later in the semester.
On the issue of Islam and it's supposed compatibility with terrorism:
Are All Terrorists Muslims? It’s Not Even Close
Why I am not Charlie
On race:
Equal in Paris?
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was ‘black’ in Russia. Is he white in America?
On freedom of speech and general hypocrisy:
These World Leaders are a Worse Threat to Free Press than Terrorism
Unmournable Bodies
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