Identity and Political Participation Among Young British Muslims Believing and Belonging

The integration of British born young Muslims into wider society is one of the most topical issues challenging policy makers in modern Britain. As citizens with diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds they have aspirations, values and interests which may seem difficult to accommodate within a Western European social and political context.

For an intelligent and well informed analysis of the dynamic nature of social and political integration, we need to listen to the voices of young British Muslims, males and females; and record the diversity of their experiences as citizens. Understanding their motivations and political concerns are key factors in illuminating their identity and predicting their political action. The challenge for informed policy-making is to avoid simple stereotyping of faith communities and examine more deeply the key drivers of identity formation and political engagement of young British Muslims.

Asma Mustafa is Research Fellow on Muslims in Britain at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, UK. She is also Senior Tutor and Senior Research Fellow at Linacre College, University of Oxford, UK. Mustafa received her ESRC funded DPhil from Oxford University in 2011.

1. Setting the Scene
2. Theorising Identity
3. Identity Typology
4. Impetus for Engagement
5. Political Participation
6. Politically Engaged and Ready for Action
7. Borderline and Contextual Engagement
8. Out of Favour and Other Unpopular Activities
9. Concluding Words