Policy Press

Benchmarking Muslim Well-Being in Europe

Reducing Disparities and Polarizations

By Pamela Irving Jackson and Peter Doerschler

Published

Jul 11, 2012

Page count

208 pages

ISBN

978-1847428875

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

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.

"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

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.