Divided or Conquered: The Challenges of Organizational Life for Muslims in the UK and Spain

Abstract

Contrary to their conventional treatment as a monolithic group with similar political habits and ideals, contemporary European Muslim communities have proven to be quite organizationally active in their local political sphere in some venues, and disengaged in others. For example, in a rigorous, extensive examination of Northern European cities, the Open Society Foundation (OSI, 2009) recently found that Muslim political participation is concentrated in associational groups (unions, advocacy organizations, social and religious meetings), as opposed to public meetings, protests, petition-signing or other forms of institutional involvement. Simultaneously, a study of Germany has shown that Muslim individuals lack awareness about Muslim-specific advocacy organizations (SVR, 2010). Far from being a paradox, such examples reflect how European Muslim communities are confronted by different challenges to their political organization in different venues. This chapter asks how we can understand these challenges to political organization and how we can explain divergent forms of political behaviour.

This chapter is based on content from Gest, J. (2010) Apart: Alienated and Engaged Muslims in the West (New York: Oxford University Press; London: Hurst and Company).