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Think global, act local

28/04/2010

In the run-up to the General Election 2010, much has been written about the political participation of minority communities in the UK.  This is particularly true for young Muslims, but how do they see their role as citizens in an advanced democracy?

British Muslims for Secular Democracy (bmsd) saw the need to gain a more nuanced understanding of the political agency of young Muslims, and assess the range of factors that affect their engagement with the democratic process.  "Think Global, Act Local: A study of the political choices of British Muslim students," is the result of in-depth interviews with 24 Muslim students across England and Wales, carried out between November 2009 and March 2010.

More specifically, the research project sought:

  • to probe their awareness of active citizenship that crosses ethnic and religious boundaries.
  • to explore internal and external barriers to the civic participation of young Muslims.
  • to explore effective strategies to increase the democratic involvement of young Muslims, and their sense of civic entitlement and responsibility.

Dr Shaaz Mahboob, Vice-Chair of BMSD said: "The report enables young people to share their innermost thoughts and feelings about the political process in the UK, and their role within it.  Politicians have expected bloc votes from Muslim communities for so long, but the findings of this report show that young Muslims are eager to be treated as individuals, with a holistic appraisal of the various facets of their identities."

"Think global, act local: A study of the political choices of British Muslim students," provides honest insight into the challenges that young Muslims face, as well as trying to find answers to problems that affect young people more generally.  The report makes a number of recommendations for statutory and third sector organisations, academics, political and media professionals, as well as the young people themselves.

Read the report here

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Notes to the editors:  

  1. bmsd is made up of a group of Muslim democrats of diverse ethnic and social backgrounds, who support a clear separation between religion and the State.  
  2. bmsd’s mission statement:   “To promote civic engagement, social inclusion, responsible citizenship and good governance particularly within constituent Muslim communities of Britain; in order to build an understanding of the shared values between all citizens to enable them to live in an inclusive, pluralist, secular and confident Britain.”   
  3. bmsd claims no mandate or false representative status. Our primary concern is democratic engagement not detailed theological analysis or debate. The level and depth of commitment to the doctrinal core and orthodoxy of the faith varies among Muslims as much as it does in members of other faith groups. bmsd founders wish to create a platform for alternative, diverse Muslim views, essential for a progressive, multi-layered, democratic identity that is not in conflict with itself or fellow citizens.  
  4. For details please visit http://www.bmsd.org.uk  
  5. For any further queries, please contact:  Dr Shaaz Mahboob on  shaaz@bmsd.org.uk or 07961365751 or Tehmina Kazi on 0207 631 4175