Shaping positive Muslim identity: a policy approach to understanding the formation of prejudice—and building social resilience—in childhood

This paper presents a policy approach designed to mitigate the threat from Salafi-jihadi ideology in Australia. Instead of the traditional policy approach of targeting adults who may be vulnerable, or seeking to correct Salafi ideology at a late stage, it argues that policy-makers should complement efforts aimed at adult counter-radicalisation by encouraging Muslim parents to shape positive ideology in the home, aimed at children in primary-school age groups.

The advocated policy includes social research activity that would provide Muslim communities with a means to better understand their role in shaping young minds, supported by scholastic materials. This would provide the agency to demonstrate to their fellow Australians that they are a key and willing element in building resilience and encouraging social participation in shaping the formation of an Islamic identity compatible with the secular liberal norms underpinning Australian society.

This paper was also published in the Indo-Pacific Strategic Digest series.

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