Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 January 2008
In this article I want to address a number of issues thrust into theopen by different manifestations of Islamist politics and theintersection of religion and identity politics in Western societies.This intersection should be read in conjunction with the emergencein Muslim-majority societies of forms of political activism thatground themselves in Islamic doctrines and invoke religioustraditions as frames of reference. It is necessary in reading thecontentions surrounding Muslim identity politics in Western settingsthat we take into account factors shaping the dynamics ofinteraction between Western countries and Muslim societies, notleast among which are the long-standing historical relationsassociated with the colonial experience and its aftermath.An earlier version of this paper waspresented at the conference, Diversity and National Identity inthe European Union: Multicultural Challenges, at the InstitutoPortuges de Relaçoes Internacionais, University Nova de Lisboa.Lisbon, March 22–23, 2007, Lisbon. This revised versionbenefited from presentations by Nacira Guénif-Souilamas andSchirin Amir-Moazami at the workshop, Conceptions of Islam,University of Bergen, August 27–31 2007, Bergen.