Islamism in the U.K.: A Looming Civil War?
18th October 2026
Professor David Betz of University College London is interviewed for the Middle Eastern Forum.
Chapters
0:00 Preview
0:21 Welcome and introduction
1:05 Betz’s opening argument
2:30 Two vectors and convex politics
3:59 Factionalism
5:30 Downgrading
7:25 The legitimacy crisis
9:05 Economic precarity
11:25 Declining obedience
13:25 Elite incompetence and disunity
15:45 What the conflict would look like
17:53 No peaceful off-ramp
20:27 Q&A: Antisemitism in the U.K.
23:34 Lessons for the United States
29:04 Could it spread across Europe?
30:51 Belligerents, police and army
39:15 What does the elite want?
43:41 Four possible outcomes
52:33 Closing