Muslims in Europe—Between Multiculturalism and Integration

The Open Society Institute Middle East & North Africa Initiative presented a talk with Olivier Roy, “Muslims in Europe: Between Multiculturalism and Integration.”

Olivier Roy is Research Director in the Humanities & Social Sciences sector of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris and has been a consultant with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1984. He is the author of numerous articles and books including Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan (Cambridge University Press); The Failure of Political Islam (Harvard University Press); The New Central Asia: The Creation of Nations (I.B. Tauris), and Vers un islam européen (Éditions Esprit).

In his latest book, Globalized Islam, Roy argues that Islamic revival results from the Muslim diaspora's efforts to assert its identity in a non-Muslim context. A schism has emerged between mainstream Islamist movements in the Muslim world (e.g., Hamas and Hezbullah) and the uprooted militants who strive to establish an imaginary ummah, or Muslim community, not embedded in any particular society or territory.

Anthony Richter, Director of Middle East Initiatives and Associate Director of OSI, moderated the discussion.