Constructing an identity today is complicated by the nature of our postmodern world we live in but more significant than ever. For most people it is very important to identify oneself with at least one aspect like nationality, ethnicity or religion. Identity could determine the position which one has in society, depending on the country one live in. Finding one’s identity can be very challenging. Many people struggle with the notion of their identity, especially minority groups like Muslims living in the “Secular World” asking themselves “Who am I?” Moreover the globalization led to significant changes in the Islamic world and within an Identity crisis.
In this paper I will focus on the following questions: What is the link between Islam and identity? What exactly is a Muslim Identity? As Muslims are coming from different countries, ethnics and different groups (Sunnis, Shiites and so on) can we talk about Muslims as a collective group or is there a Global Muslim Identity? And when how is this type of identity created?
Table of Contents
1. Introduktion
2. What is the role of Identity in Intercultural communication?
3. Muslim Identity
3.1. The history of Muslim Identity
3.2. The dimensions of Muslim Identity
3.2.1. Muslim Identity concepts
3.2.2. Global Muslim Identity
4. Muslim Identity crisis
4.1. Muslims in Europe
4.2. Globalization and identity in Muslim-dominated countries
5. New Muslim Identity
5.1. Muslim Hipsters
5.2. Muslim consumptions and religious identity
5.2.1. The Halal label
5.2.2. Muslims in the Internet
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the construction and transformation of Muslim identity in the era of globalization. It investigates how global structures, secularization, and Western media influence the self-conception of Muslims in both Western diaspora settings and Muslim-dominated countries, while analyzing how new digital movements and consumer behaviors facilitate the formation of new, hybrid identities.
- The role of identity in intercultural communication and its conceptual foundations.
- The historical development and dimensions of Muslim identity, including the concept of "ummah".
- Challenges of identity crises faced by Muslim minorities in Europe and in Muslim-dominated societies.
- The rise of new Muslim expressions, such as the "Mipsterz" movement and digital activism.
- The impact of consumer culture and the "Halal industry" on religious identity and modern lifestyle.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. The history of the category Muslim identity
According to Geoffrey Nash the construction of a Muslim diasporic identity is a recent phenomenon. In the late 20th / 21th century the Muslim identity has become an “emergent category” due to the ever-increasing immigrant populations in Europe. In the foreground thereby were the terms race and ethnicity. Since the 1980th individual Muslims, as well communities choose the term Muslim as their primary identity.
Tariq Modood, a British sociologist describes his family’s personal shift of identity. In the 1960s/70s his family was considered being Pakistani, in the 1980s Asian and in the1990s Muslim. According to the British historian Human Ansari Muslims were subsumed within “ethic categories as part of the discourse of race relations” until the 1980s. At this time the New Rights exclusion policies led to the adoption of their religion as an identity marker. Furthermore he states that debates over religious schools and attacks against Muslims as “not belonging to British culture” promoted the British Muslim identity. The concept of Identity is not a fixed one. According to Hall it is almost invariably determined through the relation to the Other:
It is only through the relation to the Other; the relation to what it is not, to be precisely what lacks, to what has been called its constitutive outside that the “positive” meaning of any term-and thus its “identity”-can be constructed.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduktion: The introduction outlines the complexity of identity construction in a postmodern, globalized world and states the central research questions regarding the link between Islam and identity.
2. What is the role of Identity in Intercultural communication?: This chapter defines identity as a multifaceted concept and discusses its fundamental necessity for decoding messages within intercultural interactions.
3. Muslim Identity: This chapter traces the historical development of Muslim identity and explores key dimensions, focusing on concepts like faith, the pillars of Islam, and the global community (ummah).
4. Muslim Identity crisis: The chapter addresses the conflicts arising from globalization and Westernization, analyzing the specific identity challenges for Muslims living in Europe versus those in Muslim-dominated regions.
5. New Muslim Identity: This chapter examines emerging phenomena such as Muslim Hipsters and the impact of the "Halal industry" and digital media on the manifestation of modern Muslim identities.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the core findings, reaffirming that Muslim identity is a dynamic, complex process constantly being re-negotiated in response to global forces.
Keywords
Muslim Identity, Globalization, Intercultural Communication, Ummah, Islam, Identity Crisis, Westernization, Mipsterz, Halal Industry, Digital Culture, Secularism, Diaspora, Cultural Hybridity, Religious Identity, Social Media.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the evolution and redefinition of Muslim identities within the context of globalized societies, looking at how external cultural pressures and internal community dynamics shape these identities.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The primary themes include the conceptualization of identity, the history of Muslim identity, the impact of globalization on Islamic societies, identity crises among European Muslims, and the emergence of new, modern Muslim lifestyles.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how Muslims in diverse settings (diaspora vs. Muslim-dominated nations) navigate identity construction and how they maintain or adapt their religious identity in an era dominated by Western influences.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a qualitative approach, relying on a literature review of sociological, historical, and cultural studies to synthesize existing theories on identity, globalization, and Islamic tradition.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the role of identity in intercultural communication, the historical and conceptual roots of Muslim identity, the challenges posed by globalization, and specific case studies like the "Mipsterz" movement and the growth of the Halal consumer market.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as Muslim Identity, Globalization, Ummah, Identity Crisis, Hybridity, and Digital Culture.
What is the "Mipsterz" movement mentioned in the text?
The Mipsterz movement refers to a specific group of young, mostly professional Muslim Americans who integrate their Islamic faith with modern Western lifestyles, often expressing this through social media, music, and fashion.
How does the text describe the influence of the internet on Muslim identity?
The text portrays the internet as a double-edged tool: it acts as a platform for actively constructing community and expressing "ummatic" belonging, but also as a space that can create mere illusions of togetherness or facilitate new forms of protest.
Why is the "Halal industry" significant to this study?
It is significant because it illustrates how consumption has become a form of cultural distinction, where products are used to safeguard religious values while simultaneously engaging with modern, global consumer culture.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Carina Zimmermann (Autor:in), 2015, Muslim Identity in the era of globalization, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/339766
