Benchmarking Muslim Well-Being in Europe
Reducing Disparities and Polarizations
By Pamela Irving Jackson and Peter Doerschler
Published
Jul 11, 2012Page count
208 pagesISBN
978-1847428875Dimensions
234 x 156 mmImprint
Policy Press
Benchmarking Muslim Well-Being in Europe
This highly topical book aims to undermine unsubstantiated myths by examining Muslim integration in Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, states which dominate the debate on minority integration and the practice of Muslim religious traditions. These nations have a range of alternative relationships between religion and the state, as well as strategies for coordinating individuals' ethnic and state identities. Using the European Parliament's benchmarking guidelines, surveys and other non-official data, the authors find that in some areas Muslims are in fact more integrated than popularly assumed and suggest that, instead of failing to integrate, Muslims find their access to integration blocked in ways that reduce their life chances in the societies in which they are now permanent residents.
The book will have an impact on research and policy especially with the commencement of the EU-wide integration benchmarking effort and will be an excellent resource for researchers, academics and policy makers.
"A timely, accessible and well-documented study about the well-being of European Muslims." Journal of Muslims in Europe
"It is a landmark publication in my eyes and very welcome analysis." Mark J. Miller, University of Delaware
"Benchmarking Muslim well-being in Europe offers hard statistical evidence showing that xenophobes who accuse European Muslims of refusing to integrate are blaming the victims. This authoritative study demonstrates convincingly that Muslims do want to join mainstream society but are often rejected by their non-Muslim fellow citizens. Every political leader and journalist in Europe should read this book." Joel Fetzer, Pepperdine University
"Jackson and Doerschler argue that an evidence (rather than an anecdotal) approach to Muslim-specific immigration policy is necessary if states are to address the underlying feelings of insecurity and discrimination." Contemporary Sociology
Dr Pamela Irving Jackson, a Fulbright scholar, is Director of the Justice Studies Program and Professor of Sociology at Rhode Island College, where she received the Thorp Professorship for Outstanding Scholarship and the Maixner Distinguished Teaching Award. She served on the editorial board of the American Sociological Review.
Dr Peter Doerschler is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, and recipient of a fellowship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). He is a Fulbright scholar and his primary interests include European politics, political behaviour and environmental politics.
Benchmarking the Well-Being of European Muslims; State Involvement in Muslim Well-Being; European Muslims' Confidence in the Justice System; Muslims in European Politics: Support for Democracy and Trust in the Political System; Muslims' Experiences of Discrimination in Public Institutions; The General Well-Being of Muslims in Europe; Reducing Disparities and Polarizations in Europe.
