Elusive inclusion: comparing the counter-intuitive accommodation policies of Islamic schools in Scotland and Quebec

Abstract

ABSTRACT In many respects the sub-state nation of Scotland seemingly has a stronger relationship with Muslim communities than its counterpart, Quebec. While both jurisdictions fund faith schools to varying degrees, Scotland does not fund Islamic schools and Quebec does. Thus, this paper considers an intriguing puzzle: one jurisdiction which has a more contentious relationship with Muslim communities accommodates the public funding of Islamic schools, than the jurisdiction which demonstrates a more inclusive embrace towards them. Why? It considers four factors: church-state settlements, Muslim mobilisation, civil society actors, and political parties. It argues that church-state settlements are the critical component in explaining the outcome, and political parties the most powerful intervening variable. Ultimately, it concludes that while the counter-intuitive element in the analysis is indicative of policy legacies, substantive inclusion within the realm of education eludes Muslims in both jurisdictions.