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Loss and Salvation: A Sociological Analysis of Knowledge and Discourse on Salafist Strategies of One-Upmanship in the Field of Islam in Germany

Report title in the original language

Verlust und Errettung: Eine Wissenssoziologische Diskursanalyse salafistischer Überbietungsstrategien im Feld des Islam in Deutschland

Description

This article examines how Salafist actors in Germany construct and legitimise religious authority through competing discourses within the Islamic field. Using a sociological perspective informed by the sociology of knowledge and discourse analysis, the author explores how different Salafist groups engage in strategies of "one-upmanship" by presenting themselves as the most authentic interpreters of Islam while delegitimising rival actors. The concepts of loss and salvation are analysed as central discursive mechanisms through which Salafist preachers define moral boundaries, frame religious identity, and encourage adherence to their interpretation of Islam. The study demonstrates how these narratives shape processes of identity formation, reinforce in-group cohesion, and contribute to symbolic competition within the broader Muslim community in Germany. It highlights the role of religious discourse in the production of authority and the dynamics of contemporary Salafist mobilisation.

Related topic

Types of radicalisation and emerging threats

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Language:

German 

Date:

16-07-2026

Proposed by:

IPS 

Source:

Dennaoui, 2026