The socio-genesis of the category “Muslims” in Europe: four case studies

Abstract

This special issue brings together contributions from several European countries that extend our understanding of the sociogenesis of the growing use of the category “Muslim” as the main figure of otherness. Based on desk research, it aims at questioning the comparability of the category “Muslim” by highlighting the mainstreamed narratives on Muslim populations in France, Britain, Spain and Norway. The analysis that emerges offers an opportunity to revisit the trivialization of the category “Muslim” and to question the evolution of multicultural societies that have become considerably polarized over the past decades.