To what extent do we find differences across European countries in cultural distance and patterns of social interaction between various Muslim groups and the majority population? Do these relate to nationally specific policies for accommodating Islam and Muslims, or other nationally specific factors (e.g., levels of discrimination, cultural norms and values, relative deprivation)?

Much literature is highly normative. We aim to move towards an empirically based understanding of the factors that shape the trajectories and life chances of Muslim minorities in their societies of settlement, by referring to national context, and the responses of the majority population. For example, it is not clear to what extent culture and religion are relevant factors for explaining that groups of Muslim origin are at the bottom of socio-economic indicators in most European countries, though this claim features prominently in the literature. Also if cultural and religion play a role, it is not so easy to determine the extent to which this is due to Muslims’ own behavior and opinions, or to a stronger rejection of these groups by the majority society, or a combination of both.

Papers address specific research questions that relate some aspect of a) national context and b) cultural and social relationships between Muslims and the majority population. All papers are based on original empirical data that examines the experiences of Muslim groups within a country, or applies a cross-national comparative perspective, or combines cross-group and cross-national comparison.