What does it mean to 'be Muslim' in a polarized Europe? The QUEST project examines the political dynamics surrounding Muslim identities and representations of Islam in European public life. Beginning with archival research of media and policy interventions, researchers will uncover ‘critical events’ that have placed Muslims and Islam in the public eye in four European contexts – France, Norway, Spain and UK.
This will be followed by a period of ethnographic research to explore the myriad ways that Muslims actually conduct their lives, against the background of a politics of threat. A final phase of engagement with civil society actors in each context will consider the implications of shifting representations and identities for democratic governance in a turbulent age.
Contact:
norface.net/project/quest
Lead PI: polialexandra@yahoo.fr