TY - JOUR

T1 -  Muslims on the Political Agenda

AU - Jacobsen, Brian Arly

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Within four decades of immigration, Islam has become the largest minority-religion in Denmark. This has resulted in a need for Muslim institutions in Denmark such as burial places, educational institutions and places for prayer. The need for these religious institutions has been disputed since they were first established.    The aim of this article is to describe and analyze the strategies used by Danish politicians in dealing with the presence of Islam and Muslims in Denmark, illustrated by the debate on the plan for building a mosque in Copenhagen. The analysis of this debate in the Danish parliament during 1980-2007 shows how Danish politicians attempt to construct "otherness" (explicitly) and "Danishness" (implicitly) through their articulation on Muslims. Hereby they construct Muslims as the "otherness" of Danish identity which at one and the same time makes Danish identity possible and impossible. Possible, because Muslims as a relation of difference are, what gives identity to the notions of "Danishness" and "Danish culture". Impossible, because they prevent "Danishness" from becoming complete.

AB - Within four decades of immigration, Islam has become the largest minority-religion in Denmark. This has resulted in a need for Muslim institutions in Denmark such as burial places, educational institutions and places for prayer. The need for these religious institutions has been disputed since they were first established.    The aim of this article is to describe and analyze the strategies used by Danish politicians in dealing with the presence of Islam and Muslims in Denmark, illustrated by the debate on the plan for building a mosque in Copenhagen. The analysis of this debate in the Danish parliament during 1980-2007 shows how Danish politicians attempt to construct "otherness" (explicitly) and "Danishness" (implicitly) through their articulation on Muslims. Hereby they construct Muslims as the "otherness" of Danish identity which at one and the same time makes Danish identity possible and impossible. Possible, because Muslims as a relation of difference are, what gives identity to the notions of "Danishness" and "Danish culture". Impossible, because they prevent "Danishness" from becoming complete.

KW - Faculty of Humanities

KW - political discourse

KW - Muslims

KW - immigrants

KW - Islam

KW - mosques

KW - Denmark

M3 - Journal article

VL - 22

SP - 15

EP - 35

JO - Nordic Journal of Religion and Society

JF - Nordic Journal of Religion and Society

SN - 0809-7291

IS - 1

ER -