Speech on Radicalization, Islamic Extremism, and the Failure of State Multiculturalism

This study guide will help you analyze David Cameron’s Speech on Radicalization, Islamic Extremism, and the Failure of State Multiculturalism. In addition to help with your analysis, you can find a summary of the text and ideas for putting it into perspective.

Presentation of the text

Title: “Speech on Radicalization, Islamic Extremism and the Failure of State Multiculturalism” (2011)

Sender: David Cameron

Genre: Speech

David William Donald Cameron (b. 1966) is a British politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. He was also the Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. During his time as Prime Minister, Cameron’s government participated in the First Libyan Civil War and authorized bombings against the Islamic State. He also implemented a stricter immigration policy. His speech on Radicalization, Islamic Extremism and the Failure of State Multiculturalism took place in 2011 at the Munich Security Conference. Cameron’s speech was highly criticized for turning multiculturalism into something negative.

Excerpt from the study guide:

Although Cameron mainly talks about issues concerning the UK, the end of his speech encourages countries from all around the world to come together and face terrorism as one:

This ideology crosses not just our continent but all continents, and we are all in this together. At stake are not just lives, it is our way of life. That is why this is a challenge we cannot avoid; it is one we must rise to and overcome.
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