What are the foreign policy preferences and opinions of French and British Muslims? In particular, what is the position of Islamic organizations on foreign policy issues? Is there any mobilization of these groups in relation to such issues?

First, it is necessary to recognize the role of the political opportunity structure in each country as a framework where opinions and mobilization on foreign policy are embedded. Even though both the French and British models of integration are under pressure, the nature of the political opportunity structure in each country is in tune with the philosophy of integration. The assimilation philosophy in France means indeed a partial invisibility of ethnic politics and the illegitimacy of religion as a variable in the political sphere. Besides, the centralized model and the prominence of the Head of State in matters related to international issues, as well as the consensus around foreign policy imply a hermetic decisional sphere and few points of access. Moreover, when these points of access exist and are used, or when signs of interactions exist, they are contested. Muslim communities in France are very fragmented and divided, and despite the prominence of transnational solidarity over diaspora solidarity, at least regarding foreign policy interests, national origins structure these divisions. The institutionalization through the CFCM has not proven successful yet and the role of the CFCM stays confined to ritual issues. Mobilization can occasionally take place on the Palestinian issue or the Syrian conflict with demonstrations but because an expression framed on the basis of religious belonging detains poor legitimacy in the public sphere, there are very few signs of specifically Muslim mobilization, even less on foreign policy issues. Even an organization such as the UOIF has explicitly integrated the Republican universalistic rhetoric, at least officially. Besides, such rhetoric is accompanied by an acknowledgment that there is no attempt at influence. Humanitarianism is the type of rhetoric and mobilization which stood out when looking in detail at the UOIF's expression and mobilization over foreign policy.

On the contrary, the multicultural model in Great Britain gives full legitimacy to public expression based on religion, and the decisional sphere has been engaging more or less in a dialogue over foreign policy with ethnic communities, though disagreements over the War in Iraq have precipitated a break up with the MCB in 2009. Mobilization takes place through different channels: demonstrations, media, and discussions with decision-makers.