Qualifications
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PhD (Birmingham)
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BA (Wolverhampton)
Biography
For the past decade, Chris has been at the forefront of academic research into the phenomenon of Islamophobia. Having completed his Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded doctoral studies that explored the discourse and theory of the phenomenon in the Theology Department at Birmingham, he has since gone on to work closely with a number of different partners and institutions including the House of Lords Select Committee on Religious Offences, the All party Parliamentary Group on Islamophobia & Anti-Muslim Hate Crime, the Centre for European Policy Studies, the Equality & Human Rights Commission, the European Commission on Security Issues in Europe and the Greater London Authority amongst others.
In 2010, Ashgate published Allen's monograph entitled "Islamophobia" (www.islamophobiabook.com). In the book, Allen became the first academic to put forward a full theoretical exposition of Islamophobia at the same time as establishing a new definition as an ideological phenomenon. Critically acclaimed, Dr Sophie Gilliat-Ray (Director of the Islam-UK Centre, Cardiff University) observes how the book "will become a standard work of reference, as well as stimulating future discussion". Prof Ron Geaves (Liverpool Hope University) states that the "book is both timely and relevant and provides the depth of enquiry and investigation needed to deal with a highly contested phenomenon". Whilst Prof Jørgen S. Nielsen (Centre for European Islamic Thought, University of Copenhagen) notes how the book will make "a substantial contribution to clearing up much of the confusion around a term which is usually emotionally and politically loaded".
In addition to the monograph, he has published on that topic and other key issues facing contemporary Muslim communities in Europe in such countries as Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia, Spain and Switzerland. He was also the co-author of the seminal EUMC report into Islamophobia in Europe after 9/11.
Before taking up his current post, Chris held posts at the University of Wolverhampton, the Open University, and the Markfield Institute of Higher Education. He was also Director of Research and Policy at a Birmingham-based human rights charity, BRAP.
As well as Islamophobia his other research interests include: the role and function of faith and faith communities in today's public and political spaces; BME and other minority community issues; equalities legislation, policy and practice; citizenship, multiculturalism, integration and community cohesion.
Other activities
Chris Allen has contributed to the University of Birmingham's Predictor Podcasts, which feature academic experts discussing current and future research in their specialist field. Download Chris's podcasts below:
Publications
(2011 - forthcoming) Opposing Islamification or promoting Islamophobia? Understanding the English Defence League, in Patterns of Prejudice (Vol 45, Issue 4).
(2011- forthcoming) "We don't do God": a critical retrospective of New Labour's approaches to 'religion or belief' and 'faith' in Journal of Culture and Religion (Vol. 12, issue 3).
Allen, C and Phillimore, J (2011), Reach in evaluation: Building the capacity of housing providers and refugee communities, London: HACT.
Allen, C. (2010) Islamophobia. London: Ashgate. (Available from www.islamophobiabook.com).
Allen, C. (2010) 'Fear and loathing: the political discourse in relation to Muslims and Islam in the contemporary British setting', in Politics and Religion, vol. 4(2), Autumn 2010).
Allen, C. (2010), 'Keeping it simple and stupid: theoretical considerations on the concept of Islamophobia' in Sayyid, S and Vakil, A (eds), Thinking through Islamophobia. London: Hurst and Co.
Allen, C. (2009) The nature of the beast’ in Bunzl, J. & Hafez, F., (eds.) Islamophobie in Österreich. StudienVerlag: Vienna.
Allen, C. (2009) 'Down with multiculturalism, book-burning and fatwas': the death of multiculturalism and its implications for Muslims in Journal for Culture and Religion, No 2, Vol 8.
Allen, C (2009) The 'Religion or Belief' Equality Strand in Law and Policy: Current Implications for Equalities and Human Rights. London: British Humanist Association.
Allen, C. (2007) 'Islamaphobia in Europe' in Amghar, S, Boubekeur, A and Emerson, M (eds) European Islam: The challenges for public policy and society. Brussels: Centre for European Policy Studies.
Allen, C. (2006), (Muslim) Boyz-n-the-Hood in International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World Review, Leiden, NL: ISIM.
Follow this link for further publications by Chris Allen (pdf; 84KB; opens in new window)