Abstract
The way one identifies oneself is a multifaceted mirror of the way one sees oneself. This identity may affect certain behaviour, practices and decisions: does this identity have an impact on the political choices young Muslims make and if so, how? By exploring the role that ethnic, national and religious identity play in the lives of the second generation, one can attempt to unravel the links. This book captures second-generation young British Muslims’ motivations for political engagement or disengagement and whether identity is a source of motivation — it explores the reasons that the participants provide to account for their behaviour. This chapter does not offer a set of formal hypotheses, but provides a basic theoretical foundation which can consistently be reflected upon and reviewed in light of the fieldwork data.
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Notes
Social Identity Theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1979; Tajfel, 1981; Turner et al., 1987; Hogg and Abrams, 1988) is a social psychological theory that sets out to explain group processes and intergroup relations. It is rooted in psychology. The arguments are based on categorisation (boundaries of norms, expectations) and self-enhancement (the in-group member prefers his/her own group and sees it in a positive light).
Identity Theory on the other hand has roots in Sociology (Stryker, 1968, 1980, 1987; McCall and Simmons, 1978; Burke, 1980; Stryker and Serpe, 1982). It is a microsociological theory that sets out to explain role-related behaviour. People take on a ‘role’ depending on group interaction or expectation.
Coined by Herbert Gans in his seminal work Symbolic Ethnicity: The Future of Ethnic Groups and Cultures in America (1979).
Portes and Zhou (1993) Segmented Assimilation; Portes and Rumbaut (2001a, 2001b) continued the segmented assimilation theme.
Labelling theory or social reaction theory was coined by sociologist Howard Becker (1963). The theory highlights the influence that negative labelling of minorities and those seen as different may have on behaviour. Individual behaviour may be influenced by the linguistics and terminology used to categorise them, and is associated with the self-fulfilling prophecy theory (Blumer, 1969).
Defined as ‘hatred of Islam and therefore, to the fear and dislike of all Muslims’ (Runnymede Trust, 1997), the practice of discriminating against Muslims by excluding them from economic, social and public life.
This has little to do with how religious or practising a person is.
More recently these include Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib prison abuses in Iraq and so on.
Political Islam refers to the use of the religion as a means of overthrowing the dominant socio political systems and re-establishing an Islamic state. Groups such as Hizb ut Tahrir or the newly reincarnated organisation Islam4UK (aka Al Muhajirun) could be considered as following these aims.
This chapter is focused on motivation, not mobilisation, such as social networks (Zipp and Smith, 1979; Ellison and Gay, 1989; Kenny, 1992; McClurg, 2003) and belonging to organisations such as churches and civic groups (McAdam, 1982; Morris, 1984; Harris, 1994; Verba et al., 1995).
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© 2015 Asma Mustafa
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Mustafa, A. (2015). Theorising Identity. In: Identity and Political Participation Among Young British Muslims. Palgrave Politics of Identity and Citizenship Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137302533_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137302533_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-45386-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-30253-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social Sciences CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)