State and society responses

Abstract

This chapter reflects on the ways state and society in Britain have had both a positive and a negative impact on curbing the extreme right. It reflects on how policies around immigration have helped normalise extreme right prejudices, and also comments on the ways the state has limited the political space for extreme right activism, including the Prevent Agenda. While the state is important, it also highlights the ongoing role of Britain’s diverse civil society in responding to the issues posed by the extreme right. It identifies antifascist and related antiracist traditions, set across a range of important organisations, and reflects on how solutions empowering communities have been successful in changing attitudes. Finally, it argues that developing a multicultural liberal democracy should be an important animating factor for those wanting to limit the impact of the extreme right.