Democracy, Integration and Freedom in the Age of Prevent: A Conversation
Central London location
23rd May 2016
9am – 1pm
The government’s Prevent strategy now includes the imposition on public bodies of a statutory duty proactively to support and implement controversial processes of monitoring for signs of radicalisation. The ‘Prevent Duty’, which obliges schools, universities, hospitals and prisons to identify those who may be vulnerable to radicalisation, has been said to fundamentally change the interaction between these sectors and those to whom they cater.
This conversation brings together academics, journalists, teachers, policy-makers and other stakeholders to discuss this statutory duty. Participants will be invited to consider its implications and effects, in principle and in practice. We will discuss its rationale and informally assess is impact, considering the motivations for the policy, its objectives and its effects. Is the policy working, or does it create further problems in terms of alienation and mistrust? What should be done to rectify any shortcomings of the policy as presently constituted?
Our deliberations will be informal and conducted under Chatham House rules. However, we plan, as a result of the discussion, to be able to produce a recommendation document to inform future thinking in this area.
This event is organised by Professor Peter Morey of the University of East London, as part of the RCUK funded Muslims, Trust and Cultural Dialogue Research Project, Professor Yasmin Alibhai-Brown of Middlesex University and Tehmina Kazi, Director of Media at British Muslims for Secular Democracy.