Book Launch: Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy Register here.Join us on 3 March when Dr Ugo Gaudino, ESRC Research Fellow (International Relations) at the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex, presents and discusses his new book 'Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy'. About the Book:Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy develops an alternative framework for studying Islamophobia and the securitization of Muslims. Gaudino integrates cross-disciplinary resources to investigate how and why European Muslims are often portrayed as a security threat by both right and left-wing political parties, exploring research on Islamophobia in the West, critical studies on security and terrorism, and scholarship on the normalization of far-right racism across the political spectrum.Using the United Kingdom, France, and Italy as case studies, Gaudino takes a close look at the gradual evolution of discourse surrounding Islam within three major parties: Labour in Britain, the Socialist Party in France, and the Democratic Party in Italy. In analyzing official documents and speeches released by British, French, and Italian policymakers, he finds that Islamophobia varies by national context and political ideology, particularly in cases related to immigration, counterterrorism, and citizenship policies. The framework therefore challenges the prevailing scholarly narrative regarding the convergence of political parties to the 'centre' in the post-1989 democratic West, showing that in the case of Islam, both the mainstream Right and Left have, in fact, moved further to the right.BiographyDr Ugo Gaudino joined Sussex in October 2025 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). He is currently working on a project on how political parties and religious actors approach issues related to Muslim minorities in Europe and the West. He is interested in understanding the discourse on Islam and Muslims by right-wing and left-wing political parties, especially those who are labelled 'populist', and by key religious actors such as the Holy See. He will work under the mentorship of Prof. Fabio Petito. Before joining Sussex, Ugo obtained his PhD in International Relations at the University of Kent in 2023, with a dissertation that explores the ‘translations’ of the securitization of Islam across right-wing and left-wing parties. He is author of 'Islamophobia and translations of securitization in the UK, France and Italy' (OUP, forthcoming) and co-author of 'Methodologies in Critical Terrorism Studies. Gaps and Interdisciplinary Perspectives' (Routledge, 2024). He has published in leading journals such as the European Journal of International Security and Security Dialogue. Please note that photography/recording may take place at the event and that these photos may be used on our website and social media platforms or in printed publicity material to promote the Alwaleed Centre's activities. Please speak to the event organisers or photographers if you do not wish to be photographed. Please email thealwaleedcentre@ed.ac.uk if you have any questions or concerns about the event. Mar 03 2026 13.30 - 15.00 Book Launch: Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy Join us when Dr Ugo Gaudino (the University of Sussex) presents and discusses his new book 'Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy'. G.03, Doorway 6, Old Medical School, Teviot Pl, Edinburgh,EH8 9AG. Old Medical School Register
Book Launch: Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy Register here.Join us on 3 March when Dr Ugo Gaudino, ESRC Research Fellow (International Relations) at the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex, presents and discusses his new book 'Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy'. About the Book:Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy develops an alternative framework for studying Islamophobia and the securitization of Muslims. Gaudino integrates cross-disciplinary resources to investigate how and why European Muslims are often portrayed as a security threat by both right and left-wing political parties, exploring research on Islamophobia in the West, critical studies on security and terrorism, and scholarship on the normalization of far-right racism across the political spectrum.Using the United Kingdom, France, and Italy as case studies, Gaudino takes a close look at the gradual evolution of discourse surrounding Islam within three major parties: Labour in Britain, the Socialist Party in France, and the Democratic Party in Italy. In analyzing official documents and speeches released by British, French, and Italian policymakers, he finds that Islamophobia varies by national context and political ideology, particularly in cases related to immigration, counterterrorism, and citizenship policies. The framework therefore challenges the prevailing scholarly narrative regarding the convergence of political parties to the 'centre' in the post-1989 democratic West, showing that in the case of Islam, both the mainstream Right and Left have, in fact, moved further to the right.BiographyDr Ugo Gaudino joined Sussex in October 2025 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). He is currently working on a project on how political parties and religious actors approach issues related to Muslim minorities in Europe and the West. He is interested in understanding the discourse on Islam and Muslims by right-wing and left-wing political parties, especially those who are labelled 'populist', and by key religious actors such as the Holy See. He will work under the mentorship of Prof. Fabio Petito. Before joining Sussex, Ugo obtained his PhD in International Relations at the University of Kent in 2023, with a dissertation that explores the ‘translations’ of the securitization of Islam across right-wing and left-wing parties. He is author of 'Islamophobia and translations of securitization in the UK, France and Italy' (OUP, forthcoming) and co-author of 'Methodologies in Critical Terrorism Studies. Gaps and Interdisciplinary Perspectives' (Routledge, 2024). He has published in leading journals such as the European Journal of International Security and Security Dialogue. Please note that photography/recording may take place at the event and that these photos may be used on our website and social media platforms or in printed publicity material to promote the Alwaleed Centre's activities. Please speak to the event organisers or photographers if you do not wish to be photographed. Please email thealwaleedcentre@ed.ac.uk if you have any questions or concerns about the event. Mar 03 2026 13.30 - 15.00 Book Launch: Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy Join us when Dr Ugo Gaudino (the University of Sussex) presents and discusses his new book 'Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy'. G.03, Doorway 6, Old Medical School, Teviot Pl, Edinburgh,EH8 9AG. Old Medical School Register
Mar 03 2026 13.30 - 15.00 Book Launch: Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy Join us when Dr Ugo Gaudino (the University of Sussex) presents and discusses his new book 'Islamophobia and Translations of Securitization in the UK, France, and Italy'.
