What would you do? Everyday conceptions and constructions of counter- terrorism Lee Jarvis and Michael Lister and

Counter-terrorism and the everyday Public conceptions of how terrorism should be countered: ▫What CT strategies do publics identify and discuss? ▫How are these strategies framed and justified? ▫Why might the public imagination matter for security politics? Focus group methodology: ▫Our question: ‘If you were in government what would you do about terrorism?’ ▫Findings specific to, and situated in, this focus group context (see Jackson & Hall 2013).

‘That’s what I would do if I was ruling Britain today. Unfortunately I’m not’ Sheer difficulty of countering terrorism: ▫‘It’s a massive question’ (London, white, male) ▫‘I have absolutely no idea’ (London, white, female) ▫‘I think even with time, I don’t think I’d know what to do’ (Oxford, white, female) Seek better understanding/knowledge: ▫‘Find out if there is a problem first. You know, is there genuinely a problem’ (Birmingham, Asian, male) ▫‘If we sit down with a radicalised person, we will learn something from him’ (London, Asian, male) ▫‘Call all the experts up…who are the social scientists that we’re calling?’ (London, black, female)

‘There should be another way’ Punitive measures Relatively rare Risk of negative consequences acknowledged ‘out you go…never mind all the red tape and all the messing about, if you come here and you incite any hatred’ (Oldham, white, male) ‘these radicals need to be put into prison’ (London, Asian, male) Better education Including for: -All citizens - Muslims - Those at risk of radicalisation -Legislators ‘Bring in Islamic scholars who are knowledgeable, educated’ (London, Asian, male) ‘you need to design educational campaigns to change people’s way of thinking’ (London, black, female) Address social fracture/ alienation Much discussion of multiculturalism CT seen to exacerbate tensions ‘don’t isolate [minority communities] quite as much, and don’t kind of blame and point the finger quite as much’ (London, white, female) ‘I would make sure that I treat people equally…treat everybody as a human being’ (Swansea, black, female)

‘There should be another way’ Address disadvantage Economic deprivation key Parallels between extremisms ‘issues like poverty, social exclusion, tackling issues like education, access to services…that would go a long way’ (Swansea, black, female) ‘jobs, opportunities, employment. These are fundamental. It’s just like any other…Why do people, you know, join the EDL…the National Front or the BNP?’ (London, Asian, male) Rethink foreign policy Hypocrisies and inconsistencies Transnational identities Refocusing aims and tools of Foreign Policy ‘I would like at foreign policy. I think a lot of this is caused…even not directly; indirectly by the Muslim feeling they’re being unjustly treated around the world’ (London, Asian, female) ‘most of the problem is the British foreign policy, isn’t it?’ (Birmingham, Asian, female) ‘try a bit more diplomacy rather than military action to kind of solve world issues’ (London, white, female)

Why should we care? 2 possible objections Publics might lack knowledge and influence ▫Yet, longstanding political enthusiasm for public participation in political decision-making (e.g. Lowndes et al 2001) Discussion often extended some way beyond CT ▫Yet, our participants deemed their contributions relevant

On political disconnection 2 widespread claims to political disconnection: ▫Public disenchantment with mainstream politics  ‘large sections of the public are more distrustful, disengaged, sceptical and disillusioned with politics than ever before’ (Flinders 2010: 309). ▫Securitization diminishes public debate and scrutiny Engaging with public imaginations: ▫Casts (some) doubt on each of these claims:  Neither disengaged nor disadvantaged ▫May shed light on how publics conceptualise (security) politics ▫Likely to impact on participants’ understanding of politics

Thanks for your time! Research project: ▫ /readhttp:// /read Forthcoming book: ▫Jarvis, L. & Lister, M. (2015) Anti-terrorism, Citizenship and Security. Manchester: Manchester University Press.