The Political Discourse of the ‘New Age of Terror’: : An historical examination of the United Kingdom’s approach to counter-terrorism post-9/11 with a Critical Discourse Analysis observing how counter-terrorism strategies are framed to present a specific 

Sammanfattning: At the start of his premiership UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, spoke of ensuring that Britain continues with its proud history of multiculturalism by developing programmes to further integrate communities and reduce tensions resulting from immigration. Initially this programme was successful and many hailed the drive of New Labour in its desire to ensure that Britain sold itself as a welcoming place to call home. However, this celebration of success has been called into question over the first two decades of the new millennium following the seemingly steady increase in terrorist attacks and foiled attacks – many of which have been linked to British-born actors or immigrants to Britain. Thus, this study will call into question the extent to which the UKs multiculturalist approach has hit a stumbling block, positing that it is the change in approach to counter-terrorism through its Prevent programme that has led it to unlearn’ lessons from Northern Ireland and actively ensured a backward step through alienating the very communities it is trying to engage. It will examine the extent to which this seemingly more suspicious and divisive government-led approach alienates rather than celebrates cultural diversity, creating an environment ripe for radicalisation, in direct contrast to its aim, using Critical Discourse Analysis to show that the government’s approach from 2005 to the present day become entrenched as a result of the ‘new narrative’ of the ‘new age of terrorism’ and that this has led to a development of an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ approach which is not taking into account the necessary holistic approach to counter-terrorism, instead alienating Muslim communities and creating a hostile environment made worse by the permeation of suspicion from the general public who have bought into the narrative following more than a decade of its telling.