Muslim
immigration in the West is a recent phenomenon. Like other immigrants
before them, Muslims bring a culture and identity with them, which find
expression in many organizations. The attractions of capitalism and
democracy, and the chance for a better life, encourage the majority to
assimilate, again like other immigrants historically. Nonetheless the
sustained attack on the nation-state now carried out by the emerging
European Union is feeding a backlash of nationalism throughout the
continent. This in turn offers an opening to self-proclaimed local leaders
who declare that assimilation is a threat to Islam, and Muslims instead
should impose their beliefs on the majority in what amounts to reverse
imperialism. If allowed to pass unchallenged, these rival extremisms have
the capacity to undermine democracy in host countries.
