From Immigrants to Citizens to Outsiders? How British and French Publics have Viewed Muslims since the 1980s

1
From Immigrants to Citizens to Outsiders? How
British and French Publics have Viewed Muslims
since the 1980s

• Erik Bleich
• Middlebury College, USA

2
From Immigrants to Citizens to Outsiders?

• Europes newest citizens?
• From immigrants, foreigners, and racial, ethnic,
  or national groups
• to Muslims
• Britain and France
• large Muslim populations
• Tend to be (or will become) citizens
• Muslims problematized
• Islamophobia Muslims as The Enemy (Cesari)

3
From Immigrants to Citizens to Outsiders?

• Where do Muslims stand?
• the ethno-racial hierarchy
• measuring social distance
• Measures
• there are many possible measures
• focus here is on majority public opinion
• this is a first step in accurately assessing the
  place of Muslims on the ethno-racial hierarchy

4
From Immigrants to Citizens to Outsiders?

• Talk Outline
• change over time
• negative attitudes have risen
• comparisons across religious groups
• negative attitudes greatest toward Muslims
• comparisons across ethno-racial groups
• Muslims are not (yet) at the bottom of the
  ethno-racial hierarchy
• conclusions

5
I feel there are too many people in this country
of another
Source Eurobarometer 1989 (Britain n c. 1290,
France n c. 960) 1All Eurobarometer data
calculated based on unweighted raw data.
6
I personally find disturbing the presence of
people of another
Source Eurobarometer 1989 (Britain n c. 1290,
France n c. 960) All Eurobarometer data
calculated based on unweighted raw data.
7
I personally find disturbing the presence of
people of another
Source Eurobarometer 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994,
1997, 2000 (Britain n c. 1300 France n c.
960) 1All Eurobarometer data calculated based on
unweighted raw data.
8
Would you say that in France there are too many
Source CNCDH 1998 (n c. 1,000)
9
Groups there is more racial prejudice against
today compared to five years ago
Source British Citizenship Survey 2003 (n
5,252), 2005 (n 5,514), 2007 (n 2,925) 1All
BCS figures calculated based on unweighted raw
data, which deliberately over-samples ethnic
minorities. 2Percentage of respondents who had
previously indicated they believe there is more
racial prejudice today than five years ago.
10
Discrimination is more common today than five
years ago based on
Source Eurobarometer 2007 (Britain n 1,313
France n 1,009)
11
Respondents have unfavorable opinion of
Source Pew Global Attitudes 2006 (n c. 900)
12
Which one religion is most violent?
Source Pew Global Attitudes 2005 (Britain n
352 France n 345) 1Percentage of respondents
who had previously indicated they believe some
religions to be more violent than others.
13
Muslim identity in our country is
Source Pew Global Attitudes July 2006
(Growing Britain n 902, France n 905 Bad
thing Britain n 622, France n 615)
14
Which group do you not want to have as your
neighbor?
Source 1999/2000 World Values Survey
15
Generally, people believe discrimination always,
usually, or sometimes right based on
Source Eurobarometer 2003 (Britain n 1,260
France n 1,029)
16
Discrimination in your country is considered
widespread on the basis of
Source Eurobarometer 2007 (Britain n 1,313
France n 1,009)
17
Belonging to the following group is generally a
disadvantage
Source Eurobarometer 2007 (Britain n 1,313
France n 1,009)
18
It is a good thing that people come to work and
live in this country from
Source Pew Global Attitudes (Britain n 902
France n 905)
19
From Immigrants to Citizens to Outsiders?

• Conclusions
• anti-Muslim prejudice is significant and rising
• Muslims are lowest on the religious hierarchy

20
From Immigrants to Citizens to Outsiders?

• Conclusions
• anti-Muslim prejudice is significant and rising
• Muslims are lowest on the religious hierarchy
• but Muslims are not lowest on the ethno-racial
  hierarchy
• ethnic markers still trump religious markers
• Muslim citizens are outsiders, but they are not
  (yet) the ultimate outsiders