Muslims in Europe and in the United States: A Transatlantic Comparison

In Europe, the perception of the international and political manifestations of Islam was a significant factor in shaping the condition of Muslim minorities long before the events of September 11, 2001. In the United States, on the other hand, a political distinction has generally been maintained between Islam in the Muslim world and Muslim immigrants living in the West.

Recently, however, the convergence of European and American political discourse posits an automatic correlation between the war on terrorism, internal security measures, and immigration policy. Such a correlation increasingly invalidates the distinction between international and domestic policy, and has consequences not only for the status of Muslim minorities, but also for more general issues of secularism and multiculturalism in the democratic nations concerned.

This conference presents the results of a six-nation study conducted in Europe on the condition of Muslims and includes scholars who are currently working on the status of Muslims in the US to offer a comparative perspective and offer directions for future comparative research.

Programm

Friday December 15, 2006

8:30-9:00

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:45-9-00

Welcome Address

9:30-11:30

Panel One:

Consequences of 9/11 on Muslims in Europe and in the United States: Legal and Political Aspects

Chair/Discussant:

Louise Richardson, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University

Europe:

The Consequences of European Security Laws after 9/11 on Muslims in Europe

Presenters:

Jose Maria Ortuño Aix, University of Barcelona

Didier Bigo, Institut d’Études Politiques, Paris

America:

The Situation of Immigrant Muslims after the Patriot Act: Legal Ramifications

Presenter:

Philip B. Heymann, Harvard Law School

The Situation of Arab Muslims and Christians: Political Ramifications

Presenter:

Wayne Baker, University of Michigan

11:45-12:45

Lunch

12:45-2:45

Panel Two:

Islam and Muslims in the Western Public Sphere

Chairs/Discussants:

Diana Eck, Harvard University

Ali Asani, Harvard University

Europe:

Anti-Islamic Discourses in Europe: Agents and Contents

Presenter:

Yasemin Karakasoglu, University of Bremen

America:

Status of Islam in the American Public Sphere after 9/11

Presenter:

Emran Qureshi, Harvard University

3:00-5:00

Panel Three:

Religious Life of Muslims in the West: Legal and Political Dimensions

Chair/Discussant:

Peter Skerry, Boston College

Europe:

Legal Status of Islamic Religious Practices in Europe after 9/11

Presenters:

Marcel Maussen, University of Amsterdam

Frank Peter, University Viadrina Frankfurt-Oder

America:

Religious Practices of American Muslims

Presenter:

Louise Cainkar, Marquette University

Saturday December 16, 2006

9:00-9:30

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:30-11:30

Panel Four:

Relations Between the State and Muslims

Chairs/Discussants:

Kishwer, Baroness Falkner of Margravine, John F. Kennedy School of Government

Jocelyne Cesari, CNRS-Paris and Harvard University

Europe:

Muslims in Europe: Between Secularism and Multiculturalism

Presenter:

Farhad Khosrokhavar, École des Hautes Études en Sciences, Paris

America:

The Debate on Religious Freedom and Civil Liberties after 9/11

Presenter:

José Casanova, New School for Social Research

Muslims and American Secularism

Presenter:

Jane Smith, Hartford Seminary

11:30-12:30

Concluding Round Table

Chair:

Jocelyne Cesari, CNRS-Paris and Harvard University

Concluding Remarks

Conference Papers

Jose Maria Ortuño Aix, University of Barcelona THE CONSEQUENCES OF EUROPEAN SECURITY LAWS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH ON MUSLIMS IN EUROPE paper here (pdf)

Didier Bigo, Institut d’Études Politiques GLOBALIZED (IN)SECURITY: THE FIELD AND THE BAN-OPTICON paper here (pdf)

Jocelyne Cesari, GSRL-Paris and Harvard University SECURITIZATION AND RELIGIOUS DIVIDES IN EUROPE Muslims In Western Europe After 9/11: Why the term Islamophobia is more a predicament than an explanation Submission to the Changing Landscape of Citizenship and Security 6th PCRD of European Commission paper here (pdf)

Philip B. Heymann, Harvard Law School MUSLIMS IN AMERICA AFTER 9/11: THE LEGAL SITUATION paper here (pdf)

Yasemin Karakasoglu, University of Bremen ANTI-ISLAMIC DISCOURSES IN EUROPE: AGENTS AND CONTENTS paper here (pdf)

Farhad Khosrokhavar, École des Hautes Études en Sciences, Paris MULTICULTURALISM IN EUROPE paper here (pdf)

Marcel Maussen, University of Amsterdam REPRESENTING AND REGULATING ISLAM IN FRANCE AND IN THE NETHERLANDS paper here (pdf)

Jane Smith, Hartford Seminary ISLAM AND PLURALISM