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This book explores Muslims´
civic and political participation in Australia and Germany, shedding light on
their individual experiences, motives for, and personal implications of their
multi-faceted engagement. Based on in-depth interviews with Muslims who have
been active within a Muslim community context, mainstream civil society and the
political arena, this comparative study reveals the enormous complexities and dynamics
of active Muslim citizenship. The author paints a picture of Muslims as ´almost
ordinary´ citizens, who - despite experiences of stigmatisation and exclusion -
often seek to contribute to the advancement of society and the promotion of
social justice. Their civic engagement, even within a Muslim community context,
builds intra- and cross-community networks, and contrary to widespread
contestation of Islam and its place in the West, their faith is anything but a
civic obstacle to their active citizenship agenda.

This
book will be of interest to scholars and students in the fields of Sociology,
Politics, Islamic Studies, Sociology of Religion and Political Participation.

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Introduction.- What is active citizenship?.- 2. Methodology: exploring Muslims´ civic and political participation.- 3. Muslims in Australia and Germany: demographics, resources, citizenship.- 4. The Muslim community and political context in Australia and Germany.- 5. Types and trajectories of Muslims´ activism.- 6. Goals, motives and driving forces.- 7. Empowering and discouraging factors.- 8. Personal implications of civic activism.- 9. Conclusion

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Mario Peucker is Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Cultural Diversity and Wellbeing, Victoria University, Australia.

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