Loud and proud: Passion and politics in the English Defence League (New Ethnographies)

The book uses interviews, informal conversations and extended observation at EDL events to critically reflect on the gap between the movement's public image and activists' own understandings of it. It details how activists construct the EDL, and themselves, as 'not racist, not violent, just no longer silent' inter alia through the exclusion of Muslims as a possible object of racism on the grounds that they are a religiously not racially defined group. In contrast activists perceive themselves to be 'second-class citizens', disadvantaged and discriminated by a 'two-tier' justice system that privileges the rights of 'others'. This failure to recognise themselves as a privileged white majority explains why ostensibly intimidating EDL street demonstrations marked by racist chanting and nationalistic flag waving are understood by activists as standing 'loud and proud'; the only way of 'being heard' in a political system governed by a politics of silencing. This book brings a new perspective because unlike most studies of 'far right' movements, it focuses not on the EDL as an organisation its origins, ideology, strategic repertoire and effectiveness but on the individuals who constitute the movement. Its ethnographic approach challenges stereotypes and allows insight into the emotional as well as political dimension of activism. At the same time, the book recognises and discusses the complex political and ethical issues of conducting close-up social research with 'distasteful' groups. The book will be of value to those researching or studying in the disciplines of Sociology, Political Science and Anthropology as well as those with an interest in contemporary political issues and the populist and radical right. The book uses interviews, informal conversations and extended observation at EDL events to critically reflect on the gap between the movement's public image and activists' own understandings of it. It details how activists construct the EDL, and themselves, as 'not racist, not violent, just no longer silent' inter alia through the exclusion of Muslims as a possible object of racism on the grounds that they are a religiously not racially defined group. In contrast activists perceive themselves to be 'second-class citizens', disadvantaged and discriminated by a 'two-tier' justice system that privileges the rights of 'others'. This failure to recognise themselves as a privileged white majority explains why ostensibly intimidating EDL street demonstrations marked by racist chanting and nationalistic flag waving are understood by activists as standing 'loud and proud'; the only way of 'being heard' in a political system governed by a politics of silencing. Unlike most studies of 'far right' movements, this book focuses not on the EDL as an organisation - its origins, ideology, strategic repertoire and effectiveness - but on the individuals who constitute the movement. Its ethnographic approach challenges stereotypes and allows insight into the emotional as well as political dimension of activism. At the same time, the book recognises and discusses the complex political and ethical issues of conducting close-up social research with 'distasteful' groups. This electronic version has been made available under a Creative Commons (BY-NC) open access license. Loud and proud is an ethnographic study of grassroots activists in the English Defence League (EDL). Setting the findings within contemporary debates on race and racism, Islamophobia, social movements and the far right, the author draws on interviews, informal conversations and extensive observation at EDL events to explore and explain the gap between the public image of the movement as a violent Islamophobic and racist organisation and individual activists'understanding of it as'one big family'. Presenting them neither as duped by a charismatic leader nor working class anti-heroes, this book introduces EDL activists as individuals with real lives whose diverse trajectories in and out of activism are embedded in personal life stories. The book will be of value to those researching or studying in the disciplines of sociology, political science and anthropology as well as those with an interest in contemporary political issues and the populist and radical right. "Loud and proud is an ethnographic study of grassroots activists in the English Defence League (EDL). Setting the findings within contemporary debates on race and racism, Islamophobia, social movements and the far right, the author draws on interviews, informal conversations and extensive observation at EDL events to explore and explain the gap between the public image of the movement as a violent Islamophobic and racist organisation and individual activists' understanding of it as 'one big family'. Presenting them neither as duped by a charismatic leader nor working class anti-heroes, this book introduces EDL activists as individuals with real lives whose diverse trajectories in and out of activism are embedded in personal life stories. The book will be of value to those researching or studying in the disciplines of sociology, political science and anthropology as well as those with an interest in contemporary political issues and the populist and radical right" (ed.) Cover 1 Loud and proud 2 Contents 8 List of figures 9 List of boxes 10 Series editor’s foreword 11 Foreword by Anoop Nayak 12 Acknowledgements 16 Introduction: Transgressing the cordon sanitaire: understanding the English Defence League as a social movement 18 1 The contagion of stigma: the ethics and politics of research with the ‘far right’ 30 2 Tommy Robinson’s barmy army? The past, present and future of the English Defence League 54 3 Doing the hokey-cokey: everyday trajectories of activism 77 4 ‘Not racist, not violent, just no longer silent’: aspirations to non-racism 109 5 ‘Their way or no way’: anti-Islam and anti-Muslim sentiments 142 6 ‘Second-class citizens’: reordering privilege and prejudice 171 7 ‘One big family’: emotion, affect and the meaning of activism 194 8 ‘Loud and proud’: piercing the politics of silencing 220 Conclusion: passion and politics 239 Appendix 1 Observed events 249 Appendix 2 Respondent set 251 References 255 Index 264 "Loud and proud uses interviews, informal conversations and extended observation at English Defence League events to critically reflect on the gap between the movement's public image and activists' own understandings of it. It details how activists construct the EDL and themselves as 'not racist, not violent, just no longer silent' through, among other things." This book is an ethnographic study of grassroots activists in the English Defence League. Setting the findings within contemporary debates on race and racism, Islamophobia, social movements and the far right. -- . Hilary Pilkington. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 238-246) And Index.