Islam and identity politics among BritishBangladeshis: A leap of faith,Used

Product Description This book probes the causes of and conditions for the preference of the members of the BritishBangladeshi community for a religionbased identity visvis ethnicitybased identity, and the influence of Islamists in shaping the discourse. The first booklength study to examine identity politics among the Bangladeshi diaspora delves into the microlevel dynamics, the internal and external factors and the role of the state and locates these within the broad framework of Muslim identity and Islamism, citizenship and the future of multiculturalism in Europe. Empirically grounded but enriched with indepth analysis, and written in an accessible language this study is an invaluable reference for academics, policy makers and community activists. Students and researchers of British politics, ethnic/migration/diaspora studies, cultural studies, and political Islam will find the book extremely useful. Review "Islam and Identity Politics among BritishBangladeshis is a welcome addition to the scholarly literature on the Bangladeshi diaspora. Its great strength is that it brings together a variety of sources on this topic, from scholarly articles to newspaper articles and government reports. It will be of particular interest to those who are interested in learning more about the British Bangladeshi population."(Nazli Kibria; Boston University: Contemporary Islam, 2014) From the Back Cover The tendency among ethnic minority Muslim immigrant communities in Europe towards identification with Islam as a marker of identity has been discussed in an array of studies, but seldom have they explained sufficiently how the change took place. Islam and Identity politics among BritishBangladeshis: A leap of faith probes the causes of and conditions for the preference of members of the BritishBangladeshi community for a religionbased identity visvis ethnicitybased identity, and the influence of Islamists in shaping the discourse. This study maps the changes in identity politics of one of Britains youngest and fastest growing communities. The first booklength study to examine identity politics among the Bangladeshi diaspora in the era of globalisation, it identifies the actors and events, and explores the challenges, opportunities and dilemmas for members of the community and the British state. It also examines whether this salience of Muslim identity is a precursor to a new variant of diasporic Islam in Europe. The book delves into the microlevel dynamics, identifying the internal and external influences, and locates these within the broad framework of Muslim identity and Islamism, citizenship and the future of multiculturalism in Europe. Empirically grounded but enriched with indepth analyses, and written in an accessible language, this study is an invaluable reference for academics, especially students and researchers of British politics, ethnic/migration/diaspora studies, cultural studies, and political Islam. Policy makers and community activists will find the book beneficial in engaging in a meaningful, mature, and nuanced debate on identity politics among ethnic minorities in Britain. About the Author Ali Riaz is Professor and Chair of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University, USA