Belonging Citizenship and Muslim Identity

<p>This book explores belonging among Muslims in Britain and France asking whether British and French Muslims are citizens first or Muslims first. Based on in-depth interviews with Muslims in both jurisdictions it considers three options open to Muslims – assimilation integration or conflict – and considers the differences in approach that tend to prevail among Muslims in Britain and France with British Muslims tending to favour a cohabitationist strategy while many French Muslims adopt a more conflictual approach.</p><p>With attention to issues of Islamophobia the author examines the crises multiculturalism and secularism are facing and argues for a more inclusive rhetoric on questions of Islam and citizenship to counter the essentialist ‘othering’ approach that characterises media coverage and public discourse.</p><p>A call for a new paradigm of articulation between Muslim identity and Western citizenship <em>Belonging Citizenship and Muslim Identity</em> will be of interest to scholars of sociology politics geography and anthropology with interests in inclusion and diasporic communities.</p>