The Manufacturing of Extremism in the West: Insights into Religious, Political and Individual Radicalism A Review of Tijani Boulaouali’s Book

Abstract

This review analyses the book: The Manufacturing of Extremism in the West: Insights into Religious, Political, and Individual Radicalism by Dr. Tijani Boulaouali, published by Rikaz Publishing House in 2024. The book offers a methodical examination of extremism as a manufactured phenomenon shaped by cultural, political, and media dynamics. With seven chapters, the author explores three types of radicalism: religious, political, and individual. Dr. Boulaouali criticizes Western media's biased portrayal of extremism, its disproportionate association with Islam, and its neglect of right-wing and populist extremism. The review evaluates the book’s methodological rigor and innovative insights, particularly its dissection of how media constructs stereotypes, its critique of Western dual standards, and its engagement with interdisciplinary models. Suggestions for further depth are also discussed, aiming to assess the book's contribution to contemporary debates on extremism and Islamophobia.