This session brings together papers that focus on the relationships between states, Islam and Muslims by applying comparative approaches. The papers examine experiences across different national settings and across different groups of migrants/minorities who are Muslims.  Research question addressed will examine the relationship between states approaches to integration and religious accommodation, on one side, and Muslim groups perceptions, attitudes and behaviour, on the other. For example:

-          How does the openness of minority incorporation regimes relate to the forms of political participation by Muslim migrants, e.g., ranging from voting to violence?

-          How do public debates over Islam and Muslims in liberal democracies relate to the views that Muslims groups themselves hold over their relationships to their society of settlement?

-          How does ‘cultural distance’ between migrants and natives relate to migrants’ educational and labor market success? E.g., Does cultural assimilation result from higher education and participation in the labor market?

-          How does the growth of religious service provision directed at the Muslim diaspora in Europe relate to changes within the Islam State in Muslim countries? E.g., more professionalism or pluralism?

All papers are based on original empirical research.