The study – which the American uni highlighted as part of a wider lecture series in May 2026 – investigates the concept of "securitization", which is the process by which issues become framed as security threats and how this framework manifests differently in the UK, France, and Italy.

The 2025 research explores how Islamophobia translates into policy and institutional responses.

The study suggests securitization doesn't occur uniformly. Each country's historical, legal, and political context produces distinct pathways through which Islamophobia becomes embedded in security discourse and governance.

France's distinct approach centres on laïcité and state secularism, shaping how Muslim-related issues are securitized within that constitutional framework.

Crucially, this research is focused on the left wing of politics, unlike most research on Islamophobia.

"While there is abundant research on right-wing Islamophobia and on the right-wing nationalist appropriation of liberal-progressive themes, the securitization of Islam by left-wing parties has been mostly neglected," the University of Sussex's Dr. Ugo Gaudino, the author's study, writes.

The research contributes to understanding how anti-Muslim sentiment moves beyond prejudice into formal state mechanisms, from legislation to institutional practice, with country-specific variations reflecting broader debates about integration, citizenship, and national identity.

This academic analysis provides evidence-based examination of how security narratives surrounding Islam and Muslims have become normalized within French and wider European governance structures.

The Bridge Initiative is a multi-year research project on Islamophobia housed in Georgetown University. It aims to disseminate research, analysis and commentary on contemporary issues, and hosts a wide repository of educational resources to inform the general public about Islamophobia.

Source: Georgetown University