A Clash of Cultures?: Impacts of the growing Muslim population on cross-cultural relations in England

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject Cultural Studies - Miscellaneous grade: B Aalborg University (Humanities) course: Communication Identity and Globalization language: English abstract: In recent years reports on cultural conflicts have been a regular part of the daily news. The press and media coverage varies from big news stories such as the so-called War on Terror or the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to more domestic incidents such as racially motivated crimes in various European countries. Some scholars such as Samuel P. Huntington hold deeply ingrained cultural differences responsible for those conflicts. With the rise of global phenomena (i.e. demographic shifts asylum seekers emigration throughout Europe) ethno-nationalism and nationalism are also on the rise. Taking a closer look at Britain being a former colonial power and a nation characterized by a high immigrant population exemplifies the different attitudes towards multiculturalism across society. By promoting a sense of Britishness extreme right-wing parties such as the British National Party (BNP) try to secure the cultural dimensions of what it means to be British. This not only affects nations but most of all communities within nations specifically minority groups. In contrast to the very concept of multiculturalism forces are gathering within nations to go back to their roots. With the fall of the Soviet Union much of the worlds attention has been placed on the Islamic world. This attention primarily focuses on the last remainders of highly differential cultural context of Muslim nations. Therefore hyperglobalists such as Ohmae and Reich argue that globalization melts away cultural dissonances and brings the Muslim world into the West. However the arrival of Islam into Western nations such as France England or Germany often causes a serious identity crisis among natives and immigrants. Members of both sides want to preserve th