Casting Out: The Eviction of Muslims from Western Law and Politics

by Sherene H. Razack

Three stereotypical figures have come to represent the 'war on terror' - the 'dangerous' Muslim man, the 'imperilled' Muslim woman, and the 'civilized' European. Casting Out explores the use of these characterizations in the creation of the myth of the family of democratic Western nations obliged to use political, military, and legal force to defend itself against a menacing third world population. It argues that this myth is promoted to justify the expulsion of Muslims from the political community, a process that takes the form of stigmatization, surveillance, incarceration, torture, and bombing. In this timely and controversial work, Sherene H. Razack looks at contemporary legal and social responses to Muslims in the West and places them in historical context. She explains how 'race thinking,' a structure of thought that divides up the world between the deserving and undeserving according to racial descent, accustoms us to the idea that the suspension of rights for racialized groups is warranted in the interests of national security. She discusses many examples of the institution and implementation of exclusionary and coercive practices, including the mistreatment of security detainees, the regulation of Muslim populations in the name of protecting Muslim women, and prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. She explores how the denial of a common bond between European people and those of different origins has given rise to the proliferation of literal and figurative 'camps,' places or bodies where liberties are suspended and the rule of law does not apply. Combining rich theoretical perspectives and extensive research, Casting Out makes a major contribution to contemporary debates on race and the 'war on terror' and their implications in areas such as law, politics, cultural studies, feminist and gender studies, and race relations.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Race, Islam, Sociology, Social Justice

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2008

Reviews

[Lukáš · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a highly enjoyable collection of geographically and thematically wide-ranging case studies displaying the deeper issues with how post-9/11 societies have mobilized numerous liberal virtues as principles on which to secure a racialized hierarchy making Muslims second-rate and legally disenfranchised, excluded subjects. Besides providing instances on how feminism, multiculturalism, human rights and modernity have been taken up by conservative movements as cases excusing racist policies, the book usefully cuts into debates in immigration, counter-terrorism policies, pre-emption, states of exception, womens' rights and some of the challenges and the moral blackmailing the feminist, anti-racist and radical politics face nowadays. In particular, Razack does a great job in pushing the readers to think beyond intersectionality, multiculturalism and identity politics. The only issue with the book is that some of the (arguably clumsy) theoretical resources, in particular Hannah Arendt and Giorgio Agamben would only benefit from a more extended theoretical de-limitation, even though it is clear the author is well-versed in some of their more fruitful exegeses (Diken & Laustsen, Bauman, Gregory). Otherwise recommended for the clarity of prose, ability to provoke in correct ways and up-to-date sources.

[rana :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good and I found it surprisingly accessible. If you're interested in the subject matter I strongly recommend it.

Fun fact: might be the reading for my SPT sem 2 essay

[Sami Eerola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book about how modern racism is veiled in "culture" talk, but this book is too long for such a simple argument. (book starts to repeat itself in couple of pages) Then this book doesn't offer better solutions for immigration problems, only points where the problem is that is irritating.

[Jason Dougenis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly heavy but points are not substantially argued

[Teghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are not accustomed to Razack's style, you may find this book hard to read. She has a particular way of writing that can force alot of guilt onto the reader.

Regardless of that she is quite brilliant and she sees the truth of the world in such a striking way that one cannot help but be altered after reading her work.

Casting Out is an exploration of the experiences of Muslims in todays world. It is definitely worth reading.

Her exploration of the systemic oppression of Muslims across the world is painfully important.

[cory]

here's the review:
http://www.racialicious.com/2008/10/0...

[Scott Neigh]

Reviewed here.

[Aliya Kassam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains the extra-juridical process of the 'state of exception' and the presumption of guilt/suspicion which Muslims now face in the West.