Muslim Participation in Contemporary Governance

本研究通过调查当代治理中穆斯林宗教价值观、实践和参与的新意义，解决了政府对宗教在公共生活中的作用的新反应。它探讨了：当前政府的战略和政策如何与公民身份认识和穆斯林的宗教差异作出反应；参与式治理形式如何与穆斯林群体、宗教价值观和身份认同相结合；以及穆斯林参与治理对政策过程和结果的影响，以及对更广泛的穆斯林公民社会组织的组织和之间关系的影响。该研究通过分析国家和地方政府有关公民身份、平等、融合和多样性的政策和声明来探讨这些问题，并考虑这些政策和声明如何涉及和承认穆斯林的宗教差异。通过参与参与式治理的国家和穆斯林行为体的定性研究，探索他们对宗教身份、价值观和实践的理解如何影响他们的参与，以及这对政策过程和结果的影响。研究分析和比较了国家和地方层面的这些过程，调查了不同的背景如何产生不同的治理实践和对穆斯林在公共生活中的作用的理解，以及地方对国家层面政策和声明的反应的差异。该研究探讨了一些穆斯林团体和行动者如何以及为什么进入这些级别的治理，以及这对穆斯林公民社会组织之间关系的影响。这些问题通过在国家层面和三个地方的实证工作进行调查：伯明翰，莱斯特和塔哈姆莱茨。之所以选择这些地区，是因为它们有大量不同和多样化的穆斯林人口，不同的种族和宗教人口特征，以及管理宗教和多样性的政治非常不同。研究团队汇集了治理，参与，伊斯兰教，多元文化公民，公共政策和地方政治领域的广泛专业知识，包括：O'Toole博士（PI，布里斯托尔大学），他在政治参与，治理，地方和社区政治以及定性研究领域拥有丰富的研究经验；莫德教授（布里斯托尔大学CI），他是多元文化主义、英国穆斯林和公民身份方面的权威，并在这些问题上有公众参与的记录；米尔博士（南安普顿大学研究顾问）对穆斯林、多元文化和种族平等政治进行了广泛的研究；以及一个由地方和国家公开聘请的专家组成的外部咨询小组。该小组还将雇用一名研究干事，为期30个月，协助研究设计和实施，并雇用一名研究助理，为期12个月，协助当地的实地个案研究工作。这项研究将为当前关于多元文化、凝聚力、公民身份、宗教（特别是伊斯兰教）在公共生活中的作用以及参与式治理中世俗和宗教价值观之间的相互作用的辩论提供信息。它将对学术界、决策者和民间社会的受众有价值。在项目的整个生命周期内，研究将通过以下方式与这些受众接触：与外部咨询小组合作；出版学术出版物；在三个地方举办一次全国会议和三个讲习班，让学者、决策者、从业者和民间社会行动者参与。该小组亦会撰写研究报告及政策简报，以尽量发挥研究结果的影响。

This research addresses the novel responses by government to the role of religion in public life by investigating the emerging significance of Muslim religious values, practices and engagement within contemporary governance. It explores: how current government strategies and policies relating to citizenship recognise and respond to Muslim religious difference; how participatory forms of governance engage with Muslim groups, religious values and identities; and the impact of Muslims' participation in governance on policy processes and outcomes and for the organisation of and relations between Muslim civil society organisations more broadly.The research explores these issues through analysis of national and local government policies and statements relating to citizenship, equalities, integration and diversity, considering how these refer to and recognise Muslim religious difference. This is extended by qualitative research with state and Muslim actors involved in participatory governance exploring how their understandings of religious identities, values and practices shape their engagement and the impact of this on policy processes and outcomes. The research analyses and compares these processes at national and local levels investigating how different contexts may produce different governance practices and understandings of the role of Muslims in public life, and variations in local responses to national level policies and statements. The research explores how and why some Muslim groups and actors enter into governance at these levels, and the impact this has on relations between Muslim civil society organisations. These questions are investigated through empirical work at national level and in three localities: Birmingham, Leicester and Tower Hamlets. These areas are selected as they have significant, different and diverse Muslim populations, varying ethnic and religious demographic profiles and where the politics of governing religion and diversity are quite different.The research team brings together wide-ranging expertise in the fields of governance, participation, Islam, multicultural citizenship, public policy and local politics and includes: Dr O'Toole (PI, University of Bristol), who has considerable research experience in the fields of political participation, governance, local and community politics and qualitative research; Professor Modood (CI, University of Bristol) who is a leading authority on multiculturalism, British Muslims and citizenship and has a track record of public engagement on these issues; Dr Meer (research consultant, University of Southampton) who has carried out extensive research on Muslim, multicultural and race equality politics; and an External Advisory Group of local and national publicly engaged experts. The team will also employ one Research Officer for 30 months to assist in research design and implementation and one Research Associate for 12 months to assist with local case-study fieldwork.The research will inform current debates on multiculturalism, cohesion, citizenship, the role of religion - and particularly Islam - in public life, and the interplay between secular and religious values in participatory governance. It will be of value to academic, policy-maker and civil society audiences. The research will engage over the life of the project with these audiences by: working with an External Advisory Group; publishing outputs for academic audiences; hosting a national conference and three workshops in the three localities to engage academic, policy-maker, practitioner and civil society actors. The team will also produce a research report and policy briefings to maximise the impact of the research findings.