Conclusion: The Future of Muslim Political Activism in Europe

Abstract

This book has investigated how social movements react to religious pluralism by using the example of the participation of Muslims in the alter-globalisation movement. It has first looked at the role of religion in encouraging participation in social movements. While it may be true that faith can play an important role in social movement activism, this research suggests that we should not overestimate the role of religion. It should not be assumed that religious activists are primarily motivated by their faith. The information presented in Chapter 4 showed that this was not a strong explanatory factor for the involvement of Muslim activists in the alter-globalisation movement. Their activism was more conditioned by their life experiences, educational background, political affiliation with the left and previous involvement in progressive causes and organisations such as NGOs. Activists may, in fact, be inclined to interpret their religion in line with their existing political views. The arrival of Tariq Ramadan in the mid-1990s in France was important not because he told Muslims to get involved in political activism but because he showed how Islamic values could be found in the activism that they were already involved in.