Islamophobia’s Past, Present, and Future: Insights and Reflections from Multi-generational Muslim Academics

In this narrative interview, Maisha Islam engages with Professor Tariq Modood to explore the way in which Islamophobia has manifested within UK Higher Education’s (HE) past, present, and what this subsequently means for its future. Similar to the concept of racial fluidity (i.e., the idea that the construction of race is not a fixed reality, rather something that changes in response to social contexts), this chapter will explore this from the perspective of an established Muslim academic whose career spans over 45 years. From contributing to debates related to the Rushdie affair, to describing the double standards British Muslims experience in the current HE landscape, this unique positioning will allow for not only a critical reflection of Professor Modood’s early experiences of racism and Islamophobia in HE but also an exploration of the current impact of Islamophobia. The chapter concludes by suggesting recommendations for the sector (as well as Muslims themselves) to support current and future generations of Muslim students, academics, and staff in HE seeking to enter and thrive within universities and academia.