Britain is a deeply divided society, something that the Scottish Referendum clearly confirmed last week. If 45 percent of Scotland's 5.3 million people feel so alienated that they want independence, how much more alienated are the 2.7 million Muslims living in Britain? Let us consider Pakistani Britons, of whom there are over 1.2 million. The extremes of inequality that exist in Pakistan are replicated in Pakistani communities in Britain. Some 55 percent of Pakistanis in Britain live in poverty, compared to 16 percent of Scots. But Pakistanis in Britain have no special channels of democratic representation. Language, food, culture and religion are the main unifying characteristics of Pakistani identity, which is certainly far more distinct than any Scottish identity. If you go into a Pakistani community, you will see people watching Pakistani television and Indian films, reading Pakistani newspapers, and following world affairs and British politics through the prism of these views and historical perspectives. There are also dozens of smaller alienated national minorities in Britain whose religion is Islam.

Given that the national groups in Britain in which the Islamic faith is dominant come mainly from countries deeply scarred by British colonialism, one does not have to be a genius to link socio-economic alienation with cultural alienation. Socio-economic outcasts in Britain normally become submissive because of the sheer variety of opportunities and distractions which modern capitalism offers. But a certain percentage remains oblivious to, or becomes repelled by, the lure of these cultural opiates. For this sector of the minority population, the combination of moral and cultural purpose and a critical loathing of elements of the British state, establishment and popular culture combine to produce the perfect terrorist - the one we can fear, hate and engage in a permanent war. Jihadi John is nothing less than Britain through the looking glass. Of course it is understandable that people in Britain - from Westminster politicians down to the man and woman on the street - would like to believe that bombing Iraq will degrade and destroy IS. In truth, beheadings by IS supporters in England will come sooner than victory against IS in Iraq or Syria. Can the Royal Air Force drop carefully targeted bombs on Bradford, Manchester and London? Or will the government and people of Britain show themselves to be more reluctant to fight the IS jihadists on the streets of Britain than in the sands of Iraq?

Surely a policy that reduces economic alienation in society would promote greater social and cultural harmony? But this would also require acknowledging the barbaric history of British imperialism and abandoning the pretensions of grandeur that imagine Britain's armed forces to be progressive and necessary agents of global policing and persuasion.

The writer is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://china.org.cn/opinion/heikokhoo.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)