Abstract
This article explores the role of religion, in this case Islam, within the opportunity structure of Muslim sub-economies in the West. It draws on a case study of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets including interviews with 15 businesses operating in five key Islamic business sectors. The businesses were found to be responding to opportunities resulting from the emergence of new more westernised, pan-ethnic Muslim identities in which religion determines consumption patterns to a greater degree than ethnicity. The owners were often involved in a balancing act, trying to respond to market demands and manage a viable business whilst also adhering to their own Islamic values. The strategies they adopted were influenced by a complex interaction of different variables including Shariah (Islamic) law and its local interpretation, the local context (in particular the size of the Muslim community and the dominance of its Islamic institutions) and the entrepreneur's religious values and resources.
Published Version
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