Looking Both Ways
November 16, 2009 | Posted by NE Admin 
When East Met West
Europe & Islam: Whose Identity Crisis?
19 Nov, 10:30 – 13:00, European Parliament PHS 5B001
In a continent of diverse cultures how people choose to identify themselves is becoming increasingly important; whether through nationality, religion, language or political outlook. Can these identities mix, are they changing, and which are most important? And is identity in Europe becoming a more complex issue for its citizens?
How are European Muslims reconciling their multiple identities? And what is the basis for a European identity? Does an increase in extremism, euroscepticism, islamaphobia and a move back towards nationalism indicate that people are unhappy with those who identify themselves in different ways?
The British Council host a debate with MEPs, academics and representatives of civil society on all these questions as part of their ‘Our Shared Europe project’. The Director, Martin Rose says, “What we do is to address the cultural damage of the past; and the fractured understanding that our society has of others, they of us, and we of ourselves.
We certainly believe that these dislocations and fractures are major contributors to extremism; but our interest is in healthy, open communication and mutual knowledge as positive ends in themselves, yielding better informed, better tempered societies that accept, respect and welcome each other and are at ease with themselves.”
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