Ethno-religious conflict in Europe
Ethno-religious conflict in Europe
Typologies of radicalisation in Europe’s Muslim communities
Contributor(s): Michael Emerson (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Social Sciences, Political Theory, Sociology, Government/Political systems, Security and defense, Politics and religion, Studies in violence and power, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: CEPS Centre for European Policy Studies
Keywords: societal tension; violent conflict; Muslim culture; Islam-related tensions; aftermath of 9/11;
Summary/Abstract: This book comes from a large research endeavour of the European Union’s 6th Framework Programme, called ‘Microcon’, standing for the micro-foundations of violent conflict. In its entirety, Microcon consists of 28 component projects undertaken by 22 research centres across Europe, under the coordination of Sussex University. The Microcon website (www.microconflict.eu) gives a full account of participants, objectives and results. The project runs from 2007 to 2011.This book addresses the greatest source of societal tensions and violent conflict in contemporary Europe, involving people from minority groups of Muslim culture. Six country case studies – on Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Russia and the United Kingdom – give a comprehensive account of Islam-related tensions and violence, from the jihadist terrorist acts seen in Europe in the aftermath of 9/11 in the US, through to the urban riots of the type seen in France in 2005. These events are analyzed with a common typology together with detailed accounts of the social context in each country. Also included is an interpretation of the fundamental nature of the Islamist terrorism in Europe, with the outline of a strategy to repel it. The book is a unique source for those seeking to understand the nature of ethno-religious violence in contemporary Europe.
Series: CEPS Paperback Series
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-92-9079-822-4
- Page Count: 200
- Publication Year: 2009
- Language: English
Al-Qaeda in the West as a Youth Movement: The Power of a Narrative
Al-Qaeda in the West as a Youth Movement: The Power of a Narrative
(Al-Qaeda in the West as a Youth Movement: The Power of a Narrative)
- Author(s):Olivier Roy
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Security and defense, Studies in violence and power, Peace and Conflict Studies
- Page Range:11-26
- No. of Pages:16
- Keywords:Al-Qaeda; West; Youth Movement; Violence; Terrorism;
- Summary/Abstract:Why do we bother, in Europe, about ‘Islamic radicalisation’? The answer seems obvious. There are at least two good reasons: one is terrorism, with its security implications; the other is the issue of integrating second-generation migrants in Europe, apparently the most fertile ground for recruiting terrorists. For most observers, the link between terrorism and integration is a given fact. Al-Qaeda-type terrorist activities carried out either in Europe, or by European residents and citizens abroad, are seen as the extreme form, and hence as a logical consequence, of Islam related radicalisation.
Ideological and Theological Foundations of Muslim Radicalism in France
Ideological and Theological Foundations of Muslim Radicalism in France
(Ideological and Theological Foundations of Muslim Radicalism in France)
- Author(s):Samir Amghar
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Security and defense, Studies in violence and power, Peace and Conflict Studies
- Page Range:27-50
- No. of Pages:24
- Keywords:Ideology; Theological foundations; Radicalism; France;
- Summary/Abstract:The forms of radicalism among the Muslim populations in France are multiple and varied. To overplay the religious variable would prevent us from seeing the great plasticity of the phenomena of radicalisation. Political violence can take its source from religious justifications, or religious references can impede radicalisation, or Islam is absent altogether, even though the radicalism is practised by Muslims. Beyond this, it is necessary to recognise that all these different forms of radicalism are the product of experiences of injustice and exclusion, which can be directly linked to realities on the ground or to the political trauma of young persons having known delinquency and homelessness, personal failure, long-term unemployment and so on. Yet, the link between Muslim populations and radicalism cannot be reduced to an economic equation in which poverty is the common denominator. It seems more likely to be the inadequacies of social and political regulation that is a problem, along with the lack of recognition, contempt and “the great wall” – in the words of Khaled Kelkal22 (one of the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks in 1995) – separating the estates where most of France’s Muslims live and the rest of the towns.
Political, Religious and Ethnic Radicalisation among Muslims in Belgium
Political, Religious and Ethnic Radicalisation among Muslims in Belgium
(Political, Religious and Ethnic Radicalisation among Muslims in Belgium)
- Author(s):Theodoros Koutroubas, Ward Vloeberghs, Zeynep Yanasmayan
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics and religion, Studies in violence and power, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies
- Page Range:51-80
- No. of Pages:30
- Keywords:Political radicalisation; Religious radicalisation; Belgium; Ethnic minorities studies; Security;
- Summary/Abstract:In a multicultural society such as ours the risk of micro conflicts is always present and in fact unavoidable. The realities we have analysed can easily lead us to predict that issues such as evolution of the political situation in Iraq and the related reaction of Turkey is likely to create tensions between the Turkish and Kurdish communities living in Belgium. Likewise, the liberation of Palestine will continue to be a major issue of mobilisation and tension for Belgian residents with Arab sensibilities and groups such as the ones we have observed will certainly try to capitalise on the unrest. And of course, xenophobic and fear-mongering parties in both the North and the South of the country are likely to use tensions (or an eventual terrorist attack) as grounds for promoting their own agendas. On the whole, however, Belgium’s Muslims are likely to remain no more radicalised than their Christian or their Jewish compatriots. At a time when religious radicalisation has become almost synonymous with Islamic radicalisation, it is important to remember that the need for political parties that express religious concerns or are inspired by a faith-based world view is present in all communities and is not likely to disappear as long as there are persons who place faith high among their priorities. As for political radicalisation, the phenomenon does occur in Belgium in many contexts, and unfortunately no faith, language, culture or any other element-based community is immune.
Muslims in the Netherlands: Tensions and Violent Conflict
Muslims in the Netherlands: Tensions and Violent Conflict
(Muslims in the Netherlands: Tensions and Violent Conflict)
- Author(s):Tinka Veldhuis, Edwin Bakker
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics and religion, Studies in violence and power, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies
- Page Range:81-108
- No. of Pages:28
- Keywords:Netherlands; Ethnic minorities; Tensions and conflicts; Security; Fitna movie; Geert Wilders;
- Summary/Abstract:The release of the anti-Islam movie “Fitna” by the Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders, early 2008, aroused anxious fears of angry responses by Muslims communities. As happened in the Danish cartoon crisis, people expected the movie to trigger violent demonstrations, boycotts, the burning of flags and other aggressive responses by Muslim communities, both in the Netherlands and around the world. Months prior to the actual release of the movie, the Dutch prime minister already spoke of a crisis, predicting violent confrontations between Muslims and non-Muslims, and devastating consequences for Muslim integration in Dutch society.
Radicalisation among Muslims in the UK
Radicalisation among Muslims in the UK
(Radicalisation among Muslims in the UK)
- Author(s):Rachel Briggs, Jonathan Birdwell
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Government/Political systems, Security and defense, Studies in violence and power, Ethnic Minorities Studies
- Page Range:109-135
- No. of Pages:27
- Keywords:Radicalisation; Muslims in UK; security; violence;
- Summary/Abstract:Many theories have been offered about the drivers or causes of radicalisation, but they are rarely able to prove more than the exception, never the rule. In fact, it is almost impossible to say with any certainty what the causes are as it is so difficult to know whether a factor is instrumental, or merely present. It is perhaps more helpful to think about ‘radicalising agents’ – factors that are present (though not necessarily causal) and which appear frequently across different cases. This chapter highlights a number: key places, charismatic leaders, relationship links, experiences and stated and assumed grievances.
Muslims in Spain and Islamic Religious Radicalism
Muslims in Spain and Islamic Religious Radicalism
(Muslims in Spain and Islamic Religious Radicalism)
- Author(s):Patricia Bezunartea, José Manuel López, Laura Tedesco
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics and religion, Migration Studies, Ethnic Minorities Studies
- Page Range:136-158
- No. of Pages:23
- Keywords:Muslims in Spain; religious radicalisation; emigration;
- Summary/Abstract:This chapter starts from the assumption that the process of integration in Spain is different from that in other EU countries and that it is marked by two main characteristics. First, immigrants from Muslim countries are fewer in number than immigrants from Latin American countries. Second, the existence of domestic terrorism, through the Basque separatist group ETA, tempers the impact of tensions and conflicts from radical Islam. Recent polls indicate that immigration and terrorism are among the main concerns of Spaniards. According to the 2007 Opinion Barometer survey conducted by the Sociological Research Centre (CIS)2, immigration (a concern for 11.6% of the population) stands fourth behind terrorism (23.6%), unemployment (14.4%) and housing (14.1%) in terms of the problems perceived as affecting Spain most acutely. This reference to terrorism focuses more on that perpetrated by ETA than that of the Islamic terrorist cells. Of course, the 2004 Madrid attacks changed many aspects of Spaniards’ perception of Islamic terrorism, making it much more real and threatening. Nevertheless, ETA’s permanent campaign and the failed Basque peace processes are still much more at the forefront of people’s minds.
Radicalisation of Russia’s Muslim Community
Radicalisation of Russia’s Muslim Community
(Radicalisation of Russia’s Muslim Community)
- Author(s):Alexei Malashenko, Akhmet Yarlykapov
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Politics and religion, Studies in violence and power, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies
- Page Range:159-192
- No. of Pages:34
- Keywords:Radicalisation; Russia; Muslim communities; ethno-political conflicts;
- Summary/Abstract:The phenomenon of ‘Islamic radicalism’ is an extremely significant one for Russia because of at least two circumstances: a) there areabout 20 million Muslims living in Russia (including 3.5 to 4 million migrant Muslims), and b) in the 15 years since the collapse of the USSR,Russia has been shaken by ethno-political conflicts with an apparent confessional component. Russia’s Muslim community is not uniform. Singled out in it may be two socio-cultural realms, the Northern Caucasian and the Tatar-Bashkir (for simplicity we call it Tatar), which, as a consequence of increased migrations, have recently been in active contact with each other alongside the direct participation of a third force – Central Asian Muslims. Without touching upon the differences between them, we note one characteristic: in the Northern Caucasus, radical tendencies and sentiments are stronger than in the rest of Russia. This characteristic sometimes makes it necessary separately to describe processes and situations related to Islamic radicalism.
About the Authors
About the Authors
(About the Authors)
- Author(s):Author Not Specified
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Editorial
- Page Range:193-194
- No. of Pages:2
