Centre for Social Cohesion
Encyclopedia
The Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) is a British think tank
headquartered in London and founded in 2007.
in June 2008. Companies House records indicate that, as of 5 January 2009, the company's directors
were Baroness Cox
, former Professor of the private University of Buckingham
, Dr John Marks, and author Dr Ruth Dudley Edwards. Cox and Marks are also directors of the Educational Research Trust
.
CSC shares its Clutha House premises in London with The Pilgrim Trust, Civitas, and Policy Exchange. Unlike similar think tanks, including its stablefellows Civitas and Policy Exchange
, the Centre for Social Cohesion is not registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
, and democracy
. It researches ethnic and religious communities and organisations in the UK and publishes analyses.
The Centre's Director is Douglas Murray
, author of "Neoconservatism: Why we need it", and the CSC's web site indicates that its researchers are trained in journalism, philosophy, and Islamic affairs, and include speakers of Arabic, Bengali
, Urdu
, and other Asian and European languages. The CSC web site indicates that it studies challenges to liberal society
, secular
democracy, and religious pluralism
. The CSC takes the position that Islamism
represents a threat to social cohesion, and analyses its impact in this context. The Centre publishes regular reports, produces media releases, holds seminars, and explores how best to promote tolerance, civic values
, and greater cohesion in Britain.
and The Guardian
as "right leaning", its research has been described as "controversial" and it has attracted criticism from the National Assembly Against Racism
, the National Union of Students and the Scottish-Islamic Foundation, whose chief executive Osama Saeed
describes the CSC, along with the Policy Exchange
, as a "right-wing 'stinktank'". By contrast, the CSC's findings have been more favourably received by other media outlets, most notably the British right-of-center press such as The Daily Mail, The Spectator
and Daily Telegraph. Melanie Phillips of The Spectator has described the Centre as "invaluable", and the Telegraphs Damian Thompson
describes Murray
as the Centre's "brilliant young director" in his Daily Telegraph blog.
Murray robustly defended his February 2010 open invitation to post Irish jokes on his blog. A number of people questioned whether Murray would invite jokes about Pakistanis or Israelis.
after the Fort Hood shootings and 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, the son of writer Christopher Hitchens
and a research fellow for the Centre, said: "For well over a year now, organisations such as ours have repeatedly warned about the dangerous influence of this man, with most of our warnings falling on deaf ears".
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
headquartered in London and founded in 2007.
Foundation and constitution
CSC was established with funding of circa £275,000 from Civitas. The organisation is constituted as a company limited by guarantee, and was incorporated and registered with Companies HouseCompanies House
Companies House is the United Kingdom Registrar of Companies and is an Executive Agency of the United Kingdom Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills . All forms of companies are incorporated and registered with Companies House and file specific details as required by the...
in June 2008. Companies House records indicate that, as of 5 January 2009, the company's directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
were Baroness Cox
Caroline Cox, Baroness Cox
Caroline Cox, Baroness Cox FRCN; born 6 July 1937) is a cross-bench member of the British House of Lords. She also is the founder and CEO of an organisation called the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust...
, former Professor of the private University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
, Dr John Marks, and author Dr Ruth Dudley Edwards. Cox and Marks are also directors of the Educational Research Trust
Educational Research Trust
The Educational Research Trust is a British charity based in Harrow and founded in 1985.-Charitable Objects:The Trust's main charitable objects as listed on documents lodged with the Charities Commission are:...
.
CSC shares its Clutha House premises in London with The Pilgrim Trust, Civitas, and Policy Exchange. Unlike similar think tanks, including its stablefellows Civitas and Policy Exchange
Policy Exchange
Policy Exchange is a British conservative think tank based in London. The Daily Telegraph has described it as "the largest, but also the most influential think tank on the right"...
, the Centre for Social Cohesion is not registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Activities and Director
The CSC's web site indicates that its aims are to foster new attitudes that help bring Britain's ethnic and religious communities closer together, while strengthening British traditions of openness, toleranceToleration
Toleration is "the practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves. One can meaningfully speak of tolerating, ie of allowing or permitting, only if one is in a position to disallow”. It has also been defined as "to bear or endure" or "to nourish, sustain or preserve"...
, and democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. It researches ethnic and religious communities and organisations in the UK and publishes analyses.
The Centre's Director is Douglas Murray
Douglas Murray (author)
Douglas Murray is a British writer and commentator who was the director of the Centre for Social Cohesion from 2007 until 2011 and is currently an associate director of the Henry Jackson Society. Murray appears regularly in the British broadcast media, commentating on issues from a conservative...
, author of "Neoconservatism: Why we need it", and the CSC's web site indicates that its researchers are trained in journalism, philosophy, and Islamic affairs, and include speakers of Arabic, Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, and other Asian and European languages. The CSC web site indicates that it studies challenges to liberal society
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
, secular
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
democracy, and religious pluralism
Religious pluralism
Religious pluralism is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions, and is used in a number of related ways:* As the name of the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values...
. The CSC takes the position that Islamism
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
represents a threat to social cohesion, and analyses its impact in this context. The Centre publishes regular reports, produces media releases, holds seminars, and explores how best to promote tolerance, civic values
Civic virtue
Civic virtue is the cultivation of habits of personal living that are claimed to be important for the success of the community. The identification of the character traits that constitute civic virtue have been a major concern of political philosophy...
, and greater cohesion in Britain.
Media reception
The CSC says that it does not have any political affiliations and aims to be impartial and non-partisan in carrying out its work. A frequently referenced media source, the CSC has been labelled by parts of the media such as the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
as "right leaning", its research has been described as "controversial" and it has attracted criticism from the National Assembly Against Racism
National Assembly Against Racism
The National Assembly Against Racism is or was a British anti-racist and anti-fascist group.-External links:...
, the National Union of Students and the Scottish-Islamic Foundation, whose chief executive Osama Saeed
Osama Saeed
Osama Saeed is the head of international and media relations at the Al Jazeera satellite network. He is also a Scottish activist and commentator.- Background :Saeed was born and brought up in Glasgow...
describes the CSC, along with the Policy Exchange
Policy Exchange
Policy Exchange is a British conservative think tank based in London. The Daily Telegraph has described it as "the largest, but also the most influential think tank on the right"...
, as a "right-wing 'stinktank'". By contrast, the CSC's findings have been more favourably received by other media outlets, most notably the British right-of-center press such as The Daily Mail, The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
and Daily Telegraph. Melanie Phillips of The Spectator has described the Centre as "invaluable", and the Telegraphs Damian Thompson
Damian Thompson
Damian Thompson is a British journalist, author and blogger.Thompson was educated at Presentation College, Reading, and read history at Mansfield College, Oxford University. He received his Ph.D in the sociology of religion from the London School of Economics for a thesis on the management of...
describes Murray
Douglas Murray (author)
Douglas Murray is a British writer and commentator who was the director of the Centre for Social Cohesion from 2007 until 2011 and is currently an associate director of the Henry Jackson Society. Murray appears regularly in the British broadcast media, commentating on issues from a conservative...
as the Centre's "brilliant young director" in his Daily Telegraph blog.
Murray robustly defended his February 2010 open invitation to post Irish jokes on his blog. A number of people questioned whether Murray would invite jokes about Pakistanis or Israelis.
Anwar al-Awlaki
When focus increased on the Muslim cleric Anwar al-AwlakiAnwar al-Awlaki
Anwar al-Awlaki was an American and Yemeni imam who was an engineer and educator by training. According to U.S. government officials, he was a senior talent recruiter and motivator who was involved with planning operations for the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda...
after the Fort Hood shootings and 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, the son of writer Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Eric Hitchens is an Anglo-American author and journalist whose books, essays, and journalistic career span more than four decades. He has been a columnist and literary critic at The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Slate, World Affairs, The Nation, Free Inquiry, and became a media fellow at the...
and a research fellow for the Centre, said: "For well over a year now, organisations such as ours have repeatedly warned about the dangerous influence of this man, with most of our warnings falling on deaf ears".
External links
- Homepage
- Think tank: Betrayal of Muslim reformers, Moderate voices are denied official support, Douglas Murray, Sunday TimesThe Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, 23 November 2008 - A third of Muslim students back killings, Radicalism and support for sharia is strong in British universities, Abul Taher, Sunday TimesThe Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, 27 July 2008 - Radical Islam gains ground in campuses, Poll attacked over claim that a third of Muslim students think killing in the name of religion is justified and 40 per cent support sharia law in the UK, Jamie Doward, The ObserverThe ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, 27 July 2008