Muslims, multiculturalism and the question of the silent majority

Journal article


Akbarzadeh, Shahram and Roose, Joshua. (2011). Muslims, multiculturalism and the question of the silent majority. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs. 31(3), pp. 309 - 325. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602004.2011.599540
AuthorsAkbarzadeh, Shahram and Roose, Joshua
Abstract

Cultural diversity is the norm in Australia and the United Kingdom. Both states celebrate multiculturalism. But some populist politicians, commentators, and quasi-academics have recently portrayed Western Muslims as a “fifth column”, organized and intent on destroying the fabric of Western culture from within. Interestingly, extremist Muslim groups in the West make similar claims about the relationship between Islam and the West. In recent years, however, Western-born “moderate” Muslim intellectuals and moderates have emerged into the public sphere to challenge essentialist depictions of Islam and the Islamist textual interpretations. They claim an important social space for the Western practice of Islam. Whilst a burgeoning level of academic scrutiny is being focused upon moderate Muslims, this article notes the absence of academic literature about a large part of the Muslim population whose public life is not necessarily guided by their religion but more by their culture and ethnicity, i.e. the “cultural Muslims”. This group is unrepresented in the public debate on Islam and often ignored yet could constitute the majority of Western Muslims. This article concludes by posing significant questions about this group and the implications of political discourse upon their future trajectory.

Year2011
JournalJournal of Muslim Minority Affairs
Journal citation31 (3), pp. 309 - 325
PublisherRoutledge
ISSN1360-2004
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/13602004.2011.599540
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84859137403
Page range309 - 325
Research GroupInstitute for Religion, Politics, and Society
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
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