Muslim Youth in the Diaspora

In a world where the term Islam is ever-increasingly an inaccurate and insensitive synonym for terrorism, it is unsurprising that many Muslim youth in the West struggle for a viable sense of identity. This book takes up the hotly-debated issue of Muslim youth identity in western countries from the standpoint of popular culture. It proposes that in the context of Islamophobia and pervasive moral panic, young Muslims frame up their identity in relation to external conditions that only see 'good' and 'bad' Muslims, on both sides of the ideological fence between Islam and the West. Indeed, by attempting to break down the 'good' versus 'bad' Muslim dichotomy that largely derives from western media reports, as well as political commentary, Muslim Youth in the Diaspora: Challenging Extremism through Popular Culture will enlighten the reader. It illuminates the way in which diasporic Muslim youth engage with, and are affected by, the radical Islamist meta-narrative. It examines their popular culture and online activity, their gendered sense of self, and much more. This original book will be of interest to students and scholars interested in the fields of sociology, cultural studies and social anthropology. It offers a particular focus on Islam for research in youth studies, youth culture, political radicalisation and religious identity. It will also be relevant to the sector of youth and social work, where practitioners seek to build cultural bridges with a new generation.

Pam Nilan is Professor of Sociology at the University of Newcastle, Australia.

Chapter One Introduction: Muslim youth in the diaspora  Chapter Two The meta-narrative of Islamist extremism  Chapter Three Muslim youth radicalisation  Chapter Four Online extremism and digital counter-narratives  Chapter Five Counter-narratives of the new Muslim 'cool'  Chapter Six Gaming and the young Muslim self  Chapter Seven Muslim youth tribalism in popular music  Chapter Eight Australian Muslim youth: A case study  Chapter Nine Conclusion: Neo-theo-tribalism of Muslim youth  Index  References