On a macro level, this fear is disconcerting because of how easily it can be weaponized for political gain. In the 2016 presidential election in the United States, we saw a veritable “race to the bottom” when it came to positioning Muslims as a dangerous enemy of the state. Candidates seemed in a hurry to outdo one another when it came to who could vilify Muslims the most. These political candidates often spoke of Islam as though it were indistinguishable from terror groups like ISIS.

XREF: Connects to broader discussions of scapegoating and fear-based political manipulation in other historical contexts.

XREF: Connects to broader discourse on weaponized fear and political identity politics in contemporary electoral campaigning.

Arsalan Iftikhar, Fear of a Muslim Planet_ Gl…, loc. 33