Muslims in Multicultural Western Societies and the Emergence of Western Muslim Identities – The Case of Muslims in New Zealand and Australia

In today’s globalised world, many Muslims live within the boundaries of multicultural Western societies. This has changed the academic debate from focusing on “Islam and the West” to including “Islam in the West.” Hence, it is crucial for research to focus on Muslims living in Western societies and how they approach their identity, religion, and society. My research focuses on the identities of Muslims in New Zealand and Australia, specifically Muslims born/raised in these two countries. I explore the identities that emerge in a post-9/11 environment and the extent to which they show differences and similarities across national borders. I examine factors on the state, society, and Muslim community levels that impact identity formation. My findings are based on two surveys, that include open-ended questions, and semi-structured interviews I conducted with Muslims in New Zealand and Australia, publicly available material produced by Muslim communities, and existing research on these topics. My research finds that religious and national factors impact the identities of Muslims but that distinctively Western Muslim identities have emerged in New Zealand and Australia; these contrast with the identities of their first-generation parents/grandparents, born and raised in Muslim-majority countries. I identify significant similarities between ‘Australian Muslim’ and ‘New Zealand Muslim’ identities. In addition, my research finds that state and society-level factors impact community-level factors and lead Muslims born/raised in Western societies to practice and approach Islam in distinctive ways, unconnected with cultural practices and recognise individual choice. My research contributes to the larger debate about the role and status of minorities in multicultural societies and identity, specifically Muslims in Western societies.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Politics and International Relations

Grantor dc:publisher

ResearchSpace@Auckland

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Zaki, Hend Mohamed Mamdouh Ahmed

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Smits, Katherine

Statement dc:rights

• Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2292/66984

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchspace.auckland.ac.nz:2292/66984