Why Muslim Integration Fails in Christian-Heritage Societies

by Claire L. Adida, David D. Laitin, Marie-Anne Valfort

Overview

Amid mounting fears of violent Islamic extremism, many Europeans ask whether Muslim immigrants can integrate into historically Christian countries. In a groundbreaking ethnographic investigation of France’s Muslim migrant population, Why Muslim Integration Fails in Christian-Heritage Societies explores this complex question. The authors conclude that both Muslim and non-Muslim French must share responsibility for the slow progress of Muslim integration.

“Using a variety of resources, research methods, and an innovative experimental design, the authors contend that while there is no doubt that prejudice and discrimination against Muslims exist, it is also true that some Muslim actions and cultural traits may, at times, complicate their full integration into their chosen domiciles. This book is timely (more so in the context of the current Syrian refugee crisis), its insights keen and astute, the empirical evidence meticulous and persuasive, and the policy recommendations reasonable and relevant.”
—A. Ahmad, Choice

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674495302
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	01/04/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Claire L. Adida is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego.

David D. Laitin is the James T. Watkins IV and Elise V. Watkins Professor of Political Science at Stanford University.

Marie-Anne Valfort is Associate Professor of Economics at the Paris School of Economics and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Table of Contents

Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Figures and Tables Preface Part I: Introduction Chapter 1. The Challenge of Muslim Migrants into Christian-Heritage Societies Significant Discrimination against Muslim Immigrants from Muslim-Majority Countries Little Is Known about the Source of Such Discrimination What Can Be Done? Our Argument in Brief Chapter 2. Anti-Muslim Discrimination in the French Labor Market and Its Consequences Who Is Being Compared to Whom? Establishing That There Is a Problem to Be Solved Conclusion Part II: Research Strategy Chapter 3. Solving the Problem of Causal Identification Conditions for Establishing a Religious Effect Some Limits Conclusion Chapter 4. Procuring a Sample Experimental Games of 2009 Survey of 2009 Ethnographic Interviews of 2009 Experimental Games of 2010 Conclusion Survey of 2009 Ethnographic Interviews of 2009 Experimental Games of 2009 Experimental Games of 2010 Conclusion Part III: Why Is There Religious Discrimination in France? Chapter 6. Muslim Characteristics That Feed Rational Islamophobia Religious Norms Gender Norms Language Conclusion Chapter 7. Evidence of Nonrational Islamophobia The Simultaneous Trust Game: A Matter of Taste FFF Behavior Postsocialization: The Voting Game Reactivation of Distaste toward Muslims with Muslim Outgroup Salience: The Dictator Game The Sources of Distaste Conclusion Chapter 8. A Discriminatory Equilibrium More Hostility Perceived by Muslim than by Christian Immigrants in France Less Attachment to French Society and Greater Attachment to Home Country by Muslims A Self-Sustaining Failure of Muslim Integrationin France Conclusion Part IV: Looking Beyond, Looking Ahead Chapter 9. Beyond France: Muslim Immigrants in Western Europe and in the United States Integration of Muslims in Western Europe Integration of Muslims in the United States Conclusion Chapter 10. What Is to Be Done? The Micro Level (The Level of the Individual Citizen) The Meso Level (The Level of French Secondary Institutions) The Macro Level (The Level of the State) Conclusion Appendix Notes Glossary References Index

Editorial Reviews

The authors of this compelling, innovative, policy-relevant study move the debate about ‘who hates whom’ out of the realm of opinion and conjecture. Do Muslims, or people presumed to be Muslim, face significant discrimination in historically Christian societies, simply because they are believed to be Muslim? Everyone has an opinion on this question, whose importance is demonstrated by newspaper headlines on an almost daily basis. Using a full palette of social science methods—interviews, survey data, experimental games—Claire Adida and her colleagues make a persuasive case that anti-Muslim discrimination is a significant social phenomenon, not just in France (the focus of their research), but across historically Christian societies, including the United States. The problem, they warn, will not solve itself, and they conclude by offering a comprehensive set of policy recommendations. Their book deserves the attention of citizens, scholars, and policy-makers.

Anne Sa’adah

This top-level work by three top-level social scientists shows that there is discrimination against Muslims on grounds of their religion, but also that Muslims are to be partially blamed for hostility against them. Spiked with the provocative message that multiculturalism does not improve the situation, this is a milestone in the debate over failing Muslim integration in Western societies.

Christian Joppke

Using a variety of resources, research methods, and an innovative experimental design, the authors contend that while there is no doubt that prejudice and discrimination against Muslims exist, it is also true that some Muslim actions and cultural traits may, at times, complicate their full integration into their chosen domiciles. This book is timely (more so in the context of the current Syrian refugee crisis), its insights keen and astute, the empirical evidence meticulous and persuasive, and the policy recommendations reasonable and relevant.

Choice - A. Ahmad

The authors of this compelling, innovative, policy-relevant study move the debate about 'who hates whom' out of the realm of opinion and conjecture. Do Muslims, or people presumed to be Muslim, face significant discrimination in historically Christian societies, simply because they are believed to be Muslim? Everyone has an opinion on this question, whose importance is demonstrated by newspaper headlines on an almost daily basis. Using a full palette of social science methods--interviews, survey data, experimental games--Claire Adida and her colleagues make a persuasive case that anti-Muslim discrimination is a significant social phenomenon, not just in France (the focus of their research), but across historically Christian societies, including the United States. The problem, they warn, will not solve itself, and they conclude by offering a comprehensive set of policy recommendations. Their book deserves the attention of citizens, scholars, and policy-makers.--Anne Sa'adah, Dartmouth College

Using a variety of resources, research methods, and an innovative experimental design, the authors contend that while there is no doubt that prejudice and discrimination against Muslims exist, it is also true that some Muslim actions and cultural traits may, at times, complicate their full integration into their chosen domiciles. This book is timely (more so in the context of the current Syrian refugee crisis), its insights keen and astute, the empirical evidence meticulous and persuasive, and the policy recommendations reasonable and relevant.--A. Ahmad "Choice" (7/1/2016 12:00:00 AM)

This top-level work by three top-level social scientists shows that there is discrimination against Muslims on grounds of their religion, but also that Muslims are to be partially blamed for hostility against them. Spiked with the provocative message that multiculturalism does not improve the situation, this is a milestone in the debate over failing Muslim integration in Western societies.--Christian Joppke, University of Bern

From the Publisher

The authors of this compelling, innovative, policy-relevant study move the debate about ‘who hates whom’ out of the realm of opinion and conjecture. Do Muslims, or people presumed to be Muslim, face significant discrimination in historically Christian societies, simply because they are believed to be Muslim? Everyone has an opinion on this question, whose importance is demonstrated by newspaper headlines on an almost daily basis. Using a full palette of social science methods—interviews, survey data, experimental games—Claire Adida and her colleagues make a persuasive case that anti-Muslim discrimination is a significant social phenomenon, not just in France (the focus of their research), but across historically Christian societies, including the United States. The problem, they warn, will not solve itself, and they conclude by offering a comprehensive set of policy recommendations. Their book deserves the attention of citizens, scholars, and policy-makers.

Anne Sa’adah