Research Article
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Political Appraisals Constituting Tolerant versus Radical Identities: An Empirical Comparison between Dutch and British Muslims

Year 2021, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 68 - 81, 30.06.2021

Abstract

This article discusses the questions, how Dutch and British Muslims perceive centrality of Islam, political salience, and the way political institutions mirror (reflected appraisals) on their perceptions of conflict. In other words, the focus of this analysis is to measure the impact of the independent variables political actors’ trust, Muslim identity and how this association may constitute radical or tolerant identities in relation with the religious and political salience. The constructivist argument postulates the central premise of this study, which is that ‘identities’ should not be treated as fixed, but rather as ‘socially constructed’. This core premise of the constructivist approach postulates that religious identities are subject to change too. Studies discussed in this paper suggest a model wherein identities and institutions are closely associated with each other, and that political narratives can affect identities positively or negatively. This may either constitute identities to be superordinate, overlapping as in multiple identities or on the contrary impose fixed identities that are more prone to perceptions of conflict. This constructivist vision attains a significant role to how identity-formation impacts social order and attitudes of peace. This constructivist approach has gained importance in the field of political sciences in the last twenty years as a response to the neo-realist and neo-liberal understanding of power and dependency in relation to conflict and peace attitudes. Constructivism argues that the concept of identity should be treated equally as a defining and explanatory variable for human behaviour. Therefore, identity should not be overlooked or be perceived as just an intervening variable. Identity should thus be treated as a independent variable in the realm of political sciences and international relations. This article infers from survey data conducted in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom that institutional appraisals do matter and that institutional appraisals affect the openness or closedness of Muslim identity and their perceptions towards conflict.

References

  • Abbey, R. (2014). Charles Taylor. Routledge.
  • Abu-Rayya, H. M., Abu-Rayya, M. H., & Khalil, M. (2009). The Multi-Religion Identity Measure: A new scale for use with diverse religions. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 4(2), 124–138.
  • Adams, I., Adler, E., Allen, H., & Anderson, S. (2011). Abdelal, Rawi, Yoshiko M. Herrera, Alastair Iaian Johnston, and Rose McDermott (eds.), Measuring Identity: A Guide for Social Science Research. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Acharya, Amitav. Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order. London: Routledge, 2001. The Anglosphere: A Genealogy of a Racialized Identity in International Relations, 5, 211.
  • Ahmet Onay. (2000). Religious Attitudes and Muslim Identity, with Reference to Turkish University Students. The University of Leeds.
  • al-Gurgani, A.-S. A.-S. (1985). Kitab al-ta’rifat:(a book of definitions). Librairie du Liban.
  • Brewer, M. B., Gonsalkorale, K., & van Dommelen, A. (2013). Social identity complexity: Comparing majority and minority ethnic group members in a multicultural society. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 16(5), 529–544. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430212468622
  • Brewer, M. B., & Pierce, K. P. (2005). Social Identity Complexity and Outgroup Tolerance. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31(3), 428–437. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167204271710
  • Cresswell, J. W. (2012). Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Educational Research.
  • Duderija, A. (2007). Literature Review: Identity Construction in the Context of Being a Minority Immigrant Religion: The Case of Western-born Muslims. Immigrants & Minorities, 25(2), 141–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619280802018132
  • Elshayyal, K. (2018). Muslim Identity Politics: Islam, Activism and Equality in Britain (Vol. 20180228). IB Tauris. Gilroy, P. (2000). Against race: Imagining political culture beyond the color line. Harvard University Press.
  • Hogg, M. A., Terry, D. J., & White, K. M. (1995). A tale of two theories: A critical comparison of identity theory with social identity theory. Social Psychology Quarterly, 255–269.
  • Hopkins, N. (2011). Dual Identities and Their Recognition: Minority Group Members’ Perspectives. Political Psychology, 32(2), 251–270.
  • Huddy, L. (2001). From Social to Political Identity: A Critical Examination of Social Identity Theory. Political Psychology, 22(1), 127–156.
  • Iner, D., & Yucel, S. (2015). Muslim Identity Formation in Religiously Diverse Societies. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Jesse, N. G. (2005a). Identity and Institutions. Ithaca, US: State University of New York Press.
  • Jesse, N. G. (2005b). Identity and Institutions. Ithaca, US: State University of New York Press.
  • Lijphart, A. (2008). Verzuiling, pacificatie en kentering in de Nederlandse politiek. Amsterdam University Press.
  • Mamdani, M. (2005). Good Muslim, bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the roots of terror. Harmony. McPhee, S. (2005). Muslim identity.
  • Meer, N., & Modood, T. (2012). How does Interculturalism Contrast with Multiculturalism? Journal of Intercultural Studies, 33(2), 175–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/07256868.2011.618266
  • Mercer, J. (1995). Anarchy and identity. International Organization, 49(2), 229–252.
  • Mol, H., 1922-. (1978). Identity and religion: International, cross-cultural approaches. London etc. : Sage.
  • Nagel, J. (1994). Constructing ethnicity: Creating and recreating ethnic identity and culture. Social Problems, 41(1), 152–176.
  • Onuf, N. (2013). Making Sense, Making Worlds: Constructivism in social theory and international relations. Routledge.
  • Peucker, M. (2018). On the (In)compatibility of Islamic Religiosity and Citizenship in Western Democracies: The Role of Religion for Muslims’ Civic and Political Engagement. Politics and Religion, 11(3), 553–575. Cambridge Core. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755048317000700
  • Pichler, F. (2005). Affection to and Exploitation of Europe: European Identity in the EU. Tajfel, H. (1974). Social identity and intergroup behaviour. Information (International Social Science Council), 13(2), 65–93. https://doi.org/10.1177/053901847401300204
  • Tajfel, Henri. (1981). The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior.
  • Taylor, C. (1989). Sources of the self: The making of the modern identity. Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press.
  • Van Klingeren, M., Boomgaarden, H. G., & De Vreese, C. H. (2013). Going Soft or Staying Soft: Have Identity Factors Become More Important Than Economic Rationale when Explaining Euroscepticism? Journal of European Integration, 35(6), 689–704. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2012.719506
  • Waltz, K. N. (2010). Theory of international politics. Waveland Press.
  • Walzer, M. (Ed.). (2004). Politics and Passion. In Politics and Passion (pp. 110–130). Yale University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npmwc.9
  • Wendt, A. (1992a). Anarchy is what states make of it: The social construction of power politics. International Organization, 46(2), 391–425.
  • Wendt, A. (1992b). Anarchy is what states make of it: The social construction of power politics. International Organization, 46(2), 391–425.
  • Wendt, A. (1999). Social theory of international politics. Cambridge University Press.
  • Ysseldyk, R., Matheson, K., & Anisman, H. (2010). Religiosity as Identity: Toward an Understanding of Religion From a Social Identity Perspective. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 14(1), 60–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868309349693
  • Yuval-Davis, N. (2006). Belonging and the politics of belonging. Patterns of Prejudice, 40(3), 197–214.
  • Yuval-Davis, N. (2011). The politics of belonging: Intersectional contestations. Sage.

Siyasi Söylemlerin Oluşturduğu Radikal ve Tolerant Kimlikler: Hollanda ve Ingiltere Üzerine Ampirik Araştırma

Year 2021, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 68 - 81, 30.06.2021

Abstract

Bu araştırmanın amacı, Hollanda ve İngiltere gibi Demokratik Batı toplumlarında yaşayan Müslüman bireylerin dinî ve siyasî kimliğini incelemektir. Batı’da varlığını sürdüren Müslüman kimliğine aşırı sağcı akımlardan yansıyan tehditleri incelemek düşüncesi araştırmamızın ortaya çıkmasında başrolü oynamıştır. Çünkü bu tehditler fiilen siyasî hayata yansıdığı gibi literatüre de yansımaktadır. Ayrıca bu olumsuz tutumlar Batı’da Müslüman birey imajını zedelemekte ve genel manada söz konusu bireylerin yaşadığı toplumda olumsuz ve çatışmacı kimlikler olarak okunmasına neden olmaktadır. Yaptığım bu çalışma Müslüman kimliğinin siyasî kurumlara karşı tutumunu ve algısını, bununla beraber bu kimliğin toplumsal rolünün hangi faktörler tarafından etkilendiğine odaklanmaktadır. Bu çalışmamda kantitatif araştırma yöntemleri kullanılmıştır. Bu kullanımdaki gaye ise, inşacılık teorisi üzerinden bahsi geçen iki köklü demokratik ülkeden elde edilen dataların, literatürde geçen yapı ve ölçeklerin de kullanılarak analiz edilmesiyle sorunsala daha sağlıklı bakabilmeyi sağlayacağı düşüncesidir.

References

  • Abbey, R. (2014). Charles Taylor. Routledge.
  • Abu-Rayya, H. M., Abu-Rayya, M. H., & Khalil, M. (2009). The Multi-Religion Identity Measure: A new scale for use with diverse religions. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 4(2), 124–138.
  • Adams, I., Adler, E., Allen, H., & Anderson, S. (2011). Abdelal, Rawi, Yoshiko M. Herrera, Alastair Iaian Johnston, and Rose McDermott (eds.), Measuring Identity: A Guide for Social Science Research. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Acharya, Amitav. Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order. London: Routledge, 2001. The Anglosphere: A Genealogy of a Racialized Identity in International Relations, 5, 211.
  • Ahmet Onay. (2000). Religious Attitudes and Muslim Identity, with Reference to Turkish University Students. The University of Leeds.
  • al-Gurgani, A.-S. A.-S. (1985). Kitab al-ta’rifat:(a book of definitions). Librairie du Liban.
  • Brewer, M. B., Gonsalkorale, K., & van Dommelen, A. (2013). Social identity complexity: Comparing majority and minority ethnic group members in a multicultural society. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 16(5), 529–544. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430212468622
  • Brewer, M. B., & Pierce, K. P. (2005). Social Identity Complexity and Outgroup Tolerance. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31(3), 428–437. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167204271710
  • Cresswell, J. W. (2012). Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Educational Research.
  • Duderija, A. (2007). Literature Review: Identity Construction in the Context of Being a Minority Immigrant Religion: The Case of Western-born Muslims. Immigrants & Minorities, 25(2), 141–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619280802018132
  • Elshayyal, K. (2018). Muslim Identity Politics: Islam, Activism and Equality in Britain (Vol. 20180228). IB Tauris. Gilroy, P. (2000). Against race: Imagining political culture beyond the color line. Harvard University Press.
  • Hogg, M. A., Terry, D. J., & White, K. M. (1995). A tale of two theories: A critical comparison of identity theory with social identity theory. Social Psychology Quarterly, 255–269.
  • Hopkins, N. (2011). Dual Identities and Their Recognition: Minority Group Members’ Perspectives. Political Psychology, 32(2), 251–270.
  • Huddy, L. (2001). From Social to Political Identity: A Critical Examination of Social Identity Theory. Political Psychology, 22(1), 127–156.
  • Iner, D., & Yucel, S. (2015). Muslim Identity Formation in Religiously Diverse Societies. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Jesse, N. G. (2005a). Identity and Institutions. Ithaca, US: State University of New York Press.
  • Jesse, N. G. (2005b). Identity and Institutions. Ithaca, US: State University of New York Press.
  • Lijphart, A. (2008). Verzuiling, pacificatie en kentering in de Nederlandse politiek. Amsterdam University Press.
  • Mamdani, M. (2005). Good Muslim, bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the roots of terror. Harmony. McPhee, S. (2005). Muslim identity.
  • Meer, N., & Modood, T. (2012). How does Interculturalism Contrast with Multiculturalism? Journal of Intercultural Studies, 33(2), 175–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/07256868.2011.618266
  • Mercer, J. (1995). Anarchy and identity. International Organization, 49(2), 229–252.
  • Mol, H., 1922-. (1978). Identity and religion: International, cross-cultural approaches. London etc. : Sage.
  • Nagel, J. (1994). Constructing ethnicity: Creating and recreating ethnic identity and culture. Social Problems, 41(1), 152–176.
  • Onuf, N. (2013). Making Sense, Making Worlds: Constructivism in social theory and international relations. Routledge.
  • Peucker, M. (2018). On the (In)compatibility of Islamic Religiosity and Citizenship in Western Democracies: The Role of Religion for Muslims’ Civic and Political Engagement. Politics and Religion, 11(3), 553–575. Cambridge Core. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755048317000700
  • Pichler, F. (2005). Affection to and Exploitation of Europe: European Identity in the EU. Tajfel, H. (1974). Social identity and intergroup behaviour. Information (International Social Science Council), 13(2), 65–93. https://doi.org/10.1177/053901847401300204
  • Tajfel, Henri. (1981). The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior.
  • Taylor, C. (1989). Sources of the self: The making of the modern identity. Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press.
  • Van Klingeren, M., Boomgaarden, H. G., & De Vreese, C. H. (2013). Going Soft or Staying Soft: Have Identity Factors Become More Important Than Economic Rationale when Explaining Euroscepticism? Journal of European Integration, 35(6), 689–704. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2012.719506
  • Waltz, K. N. (2010). Theory of international politics. Waveland Press.
  • Walzer, M. (Ed.). (2004). Politics and Passion. In Politics and Passion (pp. 110–130). Yale University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npmwc.9
  • Wendt, A. (1992a). Anarchy is what states make of it: The social construction of power politics. International Organization, 46(2), 391–425.
  • Wendt, A. (1992b). Anarchy is what states make of it: The social construction of power politics. International Organization, 46(2), 391–425.
  • Wendt, A. (1999). Social theory of international politics. Cambridge University Press.
  • Ysseldyk, R., Matheson, K., & Anisman, H. (2010). Religiosity as Identity: Toward an Understanding of Religion From a Social Identity Perspective. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 14(1), 60–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868309349693
  • Yuval-Davis, N. (2006). Belonging and the politics of belonging. Patterns of Prejudice, 40(3), 197–214.
  • Yuval-Davis, N. (2011). The politics of belonging: Intersectional contestations. Sage.
There are 36 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Political Science
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Ertugrul Gokcekuyu 0000-0001-5037-499X

Publication Date June 30, 2021
Submission Date March 22, 2021
Acceptance Date May 29, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021 Volume: 3 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Gokcekuyu, E. (2021). Political Appraisals Constituting Tolerant versus Radical Identities: An Empirical Comparison between Dutch and British Muslims. Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Siyasal Bilgiler Fakültesi Dergisi, 3(1), 68-81.

Journal of Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Political Sciences is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY NC).