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Lorenz [Member] in response to: Militarisation of Research: Meet the Centre for Studies in Islamism and Radicalisation

Lorenz [Member] — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:27:29 +0000

Thanks for your comment. You're never to late!

Interesting (and encouraging) to hear that anthropologists stay clear of the Centre and are uncomfortable with its existence. Nevertheless strange that there has been no public debate about the center - or am I wrong? Haven't found anything online.

Here in Norway there was much talk about Denmark's shift from being a liberal to a more and more xenophobic country

An American in Denmark [Visitor] in response to: Militarisation of Research: Meet the Centre for Studies in Islamism and Radicalisation

An American in Denmark [Visitor] — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:50:21 +0000

Hello from Aarhus. I know I am a little late to this discussion, but I wanted to point out some observations from on campus and in Denmark. (I'm not part of the Centre). First, anthropologists here generally stay clear of the Centre and are also uncomfortable with its existence generally. I say that in an intentionally vague way to protect identities and to be fair to the participants at the Centre who are engaged in non-politically motivated research. With that said, I think the involvement of the Danish Ministry of Defense is very informative and not a cause for celebration, but for suspicion. Xenophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment (especially following the cartoon incident) is at a very high level here. So high, that the political mainstream (both left and right) basically agree to be xenophobic. In effect, there is not a strong non-xenophobic opposition. Though Danes are proud of Fogh Rasmussen (home-boy does good), his promotion can also be interpreted as evidence for a growing anti-Islam culture at the highest echelons of NATO. Finally, the lack of ethnic diversity in Denmark is unsurprising, but as a left-leaning American, the lack of interest in multiculturalism and affirmative action for refugees and "new-Danes" is surprising.

Lorenz [Member] in response to: Militarisation of Research: Meet the Centre for Studies in Islamism and Radicalisation

Lorenz [Member] — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:42:38 +0000

I agree that the extremism/terrorism studies need a "good dose of anthropology" but not under these conditions where the premises are already set as I have explained in this post

Bart [Visitor] in response to: Militarisation of Research: Meet the Centre for Studies in Islamism and Radicalisation

Bart [Visitor] — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:49:12 +0000

I think the field of extremism/terrorism studies can use a good dose of 'anthropology'. There's quite a lot of additional value in the input of anthropologists. Instead of sounding the alarm clock, the fact that the intelligence community is reaching out, should be considered an opportunity, rather then a threat. Why automatically look upon it in such a negative way ?

Maximilian C. Forte [Visitor] in response to: Militarisation of Research: Meet the Centre for Studies in Islamism and Radicalisation

Maximilian C. Forte [Visitor] — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:56:34 +0000

Lorenz, this is very alarming! I am reading all this as if the air had been sucked out of me. It is so brutally frank, so extremely anti-immigrant, and "civilizational war" in tone, that I wonder if the wider populace of NATO countries understand that they have signed on to a war without end, with a genocidal dimension. That academics should participate in this is...well, a torrent of verbal fire will spew forth, so I will stop here and take some time to digest this.