Diversity Politics in the West

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Muslims and the Politics of Diversity in Europe and the US: Europe has witnessed widespread immigration from the Muslim world in the post-WWII era, the results of which have been hotly debated in political, media and academic arenas. In this course, we will consider the evolution of the relationship between western liberal democracies in Europe and the United States and their Muslim minority populations by asking why, how and when does religion matter in structuring the social and political behavior of individuals and groups in these comparative contexts? What causes groups to make claims based on religion and how do states respond? What explains opposition to immigration and Islam in particular? How does religious diversity impact social policy, and how does social policy impact religion? In light of this historical evolution of Muslim-European and American relations, this course will explore some major contemporary themes: The French headscarf ban; the current Syrian refugee crisis; the rise of xenophobic political parties; America’s “Muslim Ban”; rioting, discrimination and urban violence; and religious claims-making in education and associational life.