Muslim Political Participation in Europe

This title analyses European Muslim communities' developing involvement in their political environment. To what extent are Muslims in Europe 'integrated'? Muslims are increasingly making themselves noticed in the political process of Europe. But what is happening behind the often sensational headlines? This book looks at the processes and realities of Muslim participation in local and national politics in a range of Eastern and Western European countries: voting patterns in local and national assemblies, membership of elected councils and national parliaments, and the tensions between ethnic, political and religious identities. It also asks how political participation and wider integration issues interrelate and considers how Muslims - as ethnic groups, or through specific institutions - seek to locate themselves within European political society. It includes 16 chapters presenting up-to-date research on European Muslim political participation. Case studies include the Respect Party in the UK, the ethnic and religious identity of Tatars in Lithuania and Poland, and the French Muslim crisis. It focuses on issues such as Muslim women, class and youth. It covers Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.