The role of ‘European Islam’ in motivating Muslim women’s political participation in France

Abstract

Against the background of an allegedly ever-growing disconnect between France and some of her Muslim communities, particularly apparent in the atrocities carried out in Paris in 2015, this article begins by offering an insight into the largely theorised academic notion of ‘European Islam’ and speculates about the extent to which it may contribute to motivating Muslim women’s political participation in France. The article draws on findings from interviews conducted with women who self-identify as Muslim and participate in both formal and informal politics in France, to examine the effects of ‘European Islam’ on their political motivations. It reveals the influence of French contextual specificities on the way in which the Muslim women interviewed articulate their understanding of ‘European Islam’ and continues by offering an explanation of how Muslim women negotiate religion and political participation in France, and their implications for French society today.