Islam in Europe

Abstract

This conference was opened by Jergen Nielsen (Centre for the Study of Islam and Muslim-Christian Relations, Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham, United Kingdom), who discussed "Muslims in Europe into the Next Millennium." After a brief account of earJy Muslim migration to Europe, viewed as a migrant population from a "rival civilizationH or a "victim" of colonialism, he argued that the second-generation Muslims have become more aware of colonial experiences than the parent generation. He attributed this ot their parents' rural background, where people tend to be more illiterate and lack intellectual resources. Although one cannot make broad generalizations on recent trends, Nielson maintained that young Muslims in western Europe are disconnecting themselves from ruraltraditional Islam and preferring a more intellectual interpretation of Islam. Felice Das.setto (Universite Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) outlined the nature and scope of contributions made by anthro­ pologists, sociologists, orientalists, and political scientists to the study of Muslims in western Europe in "The State of Research on Islam in Eupero." Dassetto pointed out that the orientalists' methods and theories failed to understand current themes, especially in the context of the Muslim presence in Europe. Universities became interested in studying Islam ...