Summary
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, 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 proclaim 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 undermind democracy in host countries.
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