ISLAM IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: KEY ISSUES AND DEBATES

Dr. Branislav Radelji

doi:10.32350/jitc.12.05

Dr. Branislav Radelji Associate Lecturer in International Development University of London, UK

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.12.05

Keywords: Islam,, EU, Islamophobia,, European Identity, Coexistence.

Abstract

Abstract Views: 70

The founding fathers of the European Union – Konrad Adenauer, Alcide de Gasperi and Robert Schuman – were all Christian Democrats and devoted Catholics. At that time, this aspect was understood as a solid basis for a united Europe and European identity. Since then, however, things have significantly changed as the growing presence of Muslims in the EU has challenged its initially imagined outlook and, accordingly, various issues focusing on Islam, European identity and inclusion of the Muslims continue to penetrate numerous debates and question peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Europeans. While primarily elaborating on the post-September 11 dynamics, this paper concludes that coexistence is possible, but only, under certain circumstances.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Jeffery T. Checkel, and Peter J. Katzenstein, ―The Politicization of European Identities,‖ in Jeffrey T. Checkel and Peter J. Katzenstein (eds), European Identity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009), 14. 2 Milton J. Esman, Diasporas in the Contemporary World (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2009), 24.
Özkan Ezli, ―The Development of Turkish Islam in Germany,‖
Internet: http://www.aicgs.org/analysis/c/ezliapr07.aspx, 01/07/2010.
4 ―Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962,‖ Internet: http://www.britishcitizen.info/CIA1962.pdf, 02/07/2010.
5 ―Immigration Act 1971,‖ Internet: http://www.britishcitizen.info/IA1971.pdf, 02/07/2010. 6 Konrad Pêdziwiatr, ―Muslims in Europe: Demography and Organizations,‖ in Yunas Samad and Kasturi Sen (eds), Islam in the European Union (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2007), 28. 7 Union des Organisations Islamiques de France, Fédération Nationale des Musulmans de France, Islamrat für die Bundesrepublik Deutchland and Türkisch-Islamische Union der Anstalt für Religion. 8 Riva Kastoryano, ―Religion and Incorporation: Islam in France and Germany,‖ International Migration Review, Vol. 38, No. 3, (2004): 1238. 9 Riva Kastoryano, ―Religion and Incorporation: Islam in France and Germany,‖ 1240
Edward Mortimer, ―Christianity and Islam,‖ International Affairs, Vol. 67, No. 1, (1991):10. 11 Ibid.,13. 12 Marcelo M Suárez-Orozco, ―Migration, Minority Status and Education: European Dilemmas and Responses in the 1990s,‖ Anthropology & Education Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 2, (1991):101. 13 Ibid., 103. 14 Samuel P.Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order (New York: Free Press, 2002), 204.