Minority leadership, science, symbols, and the media: The Belgian Islam debate and its relevance for other countries in Europe

Abstract

This article discusses the processes that occurred in Belgium during the period of 1989–2000 in the constructive areas of minority policy decision-making regarding the search for a representative and legitimate partner to represent Muslims vis-a-vis the State: minority leadership, the administration, the academic community, the great social symbolic events, and the media. It concludes with the political decision-making process itself. The conclusions refer to the interpretation of change in terms of continuity and discontinuity, and to the means of coping with historical ethnic otherness. Comparisons are made with other European countries.