Multiculturalism, Muslims and Citizenship

by Tariq Modood, Ricard Zapate-Barrero, Anna Triandafyllidou

This informative collection investigates the European dimension of multiculturalism and immigration. It argues that political theory discourse of multiculturalism and resulting EU policies assume an interpretation of liberalism developed chiefly from the American experience, and that this issue must be addressed as the European experience is entirely different (with the main influx being non-white, ethnic and religious groups challenging liberalism and existing notions of citizenship). Presenting a fresh and unique perspective of multiculturalism and citizenship in Western Europe today, this book offers a comparative series of national case studies by a diverse range of leading scholars that together provide a theoretical framework for the volume as a whole. The contributors investigate the extent to which we can talk about a common Europe-wide multiculturalism debate, or whether here too there is a Europe of two (or more) gears, in which some countries address multicultural claims swiftly whilst others lag behind, busy with more basic issues of immigrant acceptance and integration. Comprehensive and interdisciplinary, this text is essential reading for advanced undergraduates, researchers and policy makers interested in immigration, multiculturalism, European integration, Islamic studies and ethnicities.

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Tariq Modood is Professor of Sociology, University of Bristol.

Reviews

[Arjun Mishra · Rating 2 out of 5]

The chapters on Denmark and Germany are particularly interesting in how they trace those countries' histories and attitudes towards immigrants, but the rest of the book is mostly written in obfuscatory and unintelligible language and takes a presumed point of view that eschews and does not address the legitimate fears non-Muslim Europeans hold.