The aim of this book is to encourage mutual understanding between the Islamic and Western worlds. The majority of Muslims are peaceable, law-abiding citizens. However, Muslim fundamentalists, described here as “Islamists”, presents a challenge to the values of Western democracies. With many lapses, modern Western societies strive to uphold values such as tolerance, pluralism and individual freedom. Islamism is monolithic, intolerant of dissent and unsympathetic to individual liberty. “Islamic” societies and militant “Islamism” need to be distinguished since a hostile response to Islamist terrorism could quickly become hostility to all Muslims.It is the hope and intention of the authors that through this book non-Muslims may develop a better understanding of Islam and better relationships with moderate, peaceable Muslims. The fundamental conflict between modern Western societies and modern Islamism is documented here by discussing the writings of key Islamists, past and present, including Osama Bin Laden. The evidence raises many questions and challenges for both Muslims and non-Muslims.

How do we engage with the pressing challenges of xenophobia, radicalism and security in the age of the “war on terror”? The widely felt sense of insecurity in the West is shared by Muslims both within and outside Western societies. Growing Islamic militancy and resulting increased security measures by Western powers have contributed to a pervasive sense among Muslims of being under attack (both physically and culturally).Islam and Political Violence brings together the current debate on the uneasy and potentially mutually destructive relationship between the Muslim world and the West and argues we are on a dangerous trajectory, strengthening dichotomous notions of the divide between the West and the Muslim world.

In view of the growing influence of religion in public life on the national and international scenes, Muslim Diaspora in the West constitutes a timely contribution to scholarly debates and a response to concerns raised in the West about Islam and Muslims within diaspora. It begins with the premise that diasporic communities of Islamic cultures, while originating in countries dominated by Islamic laws and religious practices, far from being uniform, are in fact shaped in their existence and experiences by a complex web of class, ethnic, gender, religious and regional factors, as well as the cultural and social influences of their adopted homes.Within this context, this volume brings together work from experts within Europe and North America to explore the processes that shape the experiences and challenges faced by migrants and refugees who originate in countries of Islamic cultures. Presenting the latest research from a variety of locations on both sides of The Atlantic, Muslim Diaspora in the West addresses the realities of diasporic life for self-identified Muslims, addressing questions of integration, rights and equality before the law, and challenging stereotypical views of Muslims. As such, it will appeal to scholars with interests in race and ethnicity, cultural, media and gender studies, and migration.Contents: Introduction, Haideh Moghissi; Part I Women’s Agency Within Intersection of Discourses: Culturalist approach of women’s emancipation in the Netherlands, Halleh Ghorashi; Globalization and women’s leadership in the Muslim diaspora: an intersectional analysis, Fauzia Erfan Ahmed; Emergence of a transnational Muslim feminist consciousness among women in the WENAAZ (Western Europe, North America, Australia & New Zealand) context, Cassandra Balchin. Part II Shifting Notions of Sexuality and Family in Diaspora: Multiculturalism and religious legislation in Sweden, Anne Sofie Roald; Iranians in Britain, Vida Nassehi-Behnam; Changing spousal relations in diaspora: Muslims in Canada, Haideh Moghissi; Sexing diaspora: negotiating sexuality in shifting cultural landscape, Fataneh Farahani. Part III Reflections on Islamic Positionings of Youth in Diaspora: Styles of religious practice: Muslim youth cultures in Europe, Thijl Sunier; The struggle to stay on the middle ground: the radicalization of Muslims in Sweden, David Thurfjell; Young French women of Muslim descent: discriminatory social context and politicization, Sepideh Farkhondeh. Part IV Diasporic Space and Locating Space: Making homes in turbulent times: Moroccan-Dutch Muslims contesting dominant discourses of belonging, Marjo Buitelaar and Femke Stock; Understanding Dutch Islam: exploring the relationship of Muslims with the state and the public sphere in the Netherlands, Martijn de Koning; Between Iraq and a hard place: Iraqis in diaspora, Jacqueline Ismael and Shereen Ismael; Conclusion, Halleh Ghorashi; Index.About the Editor: Haideh Moghissi is Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies at York University, TorontoSource:Ashgate