Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

James S. Frampton

Abstract

Muslims are viewed by many in the United States with great anxiety and distrust. This mistrust encompasses Muslims in the U.S. military, especially since 9/11. The trust deficit has implications to U.S. security and military readiness in a global threat environment. Whereas the notion of Islamophobia has generated significant literature in modern public policy, there is a dearth of research on public perception towards Muslims serving in the U.S. military. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of non-Muslim U.S. military personnel on the mistrust towards Muslim military personnel in the post-9/11 era. Theories of social identity, integrated threat, and social contact hypothesis were used in this phenomenological study to explore attitudes and perceptions towards Muslims in the U.S. military. The study used a sample size of 17 participants drawn from U.S. Army veterans who participated in the Global War on Terrorism. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed by manual coding. The study findings revealed that the overwhelming majority of participants indicated a positive perception of Muslim military personnel and viewed their interaction with Muslim service members as a positive influence. The majority of the participants also acknowledged significant and consequential public mistrust of Muslims serving in the military in the post 9/11 era. The study findings supported the social contact hypothesis that predicted a positive correlation between intergroup contact and prejudice reduction toward outgroups. These findings have positive social change implications in amplifying public policy that supports diversity and inclusivity as a strategic imperative, not just limited to U.S. military readiness but also broader national settings.

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