MACMILLAN Muslims, Trust and Multiculturalism: New Directions (Palgrave Politics of Identity and Citizenship Series)

This book critically engages with the contemporary breakdown of trust between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in the West. It argues that a crisis of trust currently hampers intercultural relations and obstructs full participation in citizenship and civil society for those who fall prey to the suspicions of the state and their fellow citizens. This crisis of trust presents a challenge to the plurality of modern societies where religious identities have come to demand an equal recognition and political accommodation which is not consistently awarded across Europe, especially in nations which view themselves as secular, or where Islamic culture is seen as alien. This volume of interdisciplinary essays by leading scholars explores the theme of trust and multiculturalism across a range of perspectives, employing insights from political science, sociology, literature, ethnography and cultural studies. It provides an urgent critical response to the challenging contexts of multiculturalism for Muslims in both Europe and the USA. Taken together, the contributions suggest that the institutionalisation of multiculturalism as a state-led vehicle for tolerance and integration requires a certain type of trustworthy ‘performance’ from minority groups, particularly Muslims. Even when this performance is forthcoming, existing discourses of integration and underlying patterns of mistrust can contribute to Muslim alienation on the one hand, and rising Islamophobia on the other. Review “With the contemporary world facing challenges that range from fake news to the erosion of public confidence in politicians and state institutions alike, this timely collection of papers provides a very welcome intervention in debates on the more specific breakdown in trust between Muslims and the wider western societies to which they belong;  but as well as explaining the impact of this on intercultural relations, the collection - crucially - considers strategies for rebuilding it.” (Humayun Ansari OBE, Professor of Islam and Cultural Diversity, Royal Holloway, University of London,  UK and author of 'The Infidel Within': Muslims in Britain Since 1800) “Muslims, Multiculturalism and Trust is a vital evaluation of the practices and perspectives of our time that create and maintain stability through diversity. With terrorism and rising nationalism attempting to challenge the very idea of multicultural Britain and Europe, it is clearly time to refocus attention on what enables trust between different communities. These essays present essential reading for those committed to a diverse society.” (Joseph William Sterrett, Aarhus University, Denmark) “At the face of increasing fear and rising anti-Muslim sentiment, this edited book offers a fresh insight into talking about and building trust in Europe. Contributors document the breakdown of trust between Muslim minorities and European societies using different case studies. But they also show a way to move forward and rebuild trust.” (Dr. Esra Ozyurek, Associate Professor and Chair for Contemporary Turkish Studies at the European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK) “Trust forms the basis of all productive human engagement in our society; distrust gnaws at its foundation. The carefully curated essays collected in Muslims, Trust and Multiculturalism: New Directions forcefully demonstrate the inner dynamics of the ways in which trust and the destruction of trust operate at the centre of contemporary social and political issues bearing on Muslims in British society today. This book not only articulates the problems, but more importantly thinks through new ways of going beyond them in order to build trust that is reciprocal, strong and secure. The future starts here.” (Robert JC Young, Julius Silver Professor of English and Comparative Literature, New York University) From the Back Cover This book critically engages with the contemporary brea