This volume of interdisciplinary essays by leading scholars explores the theme of trust and multiculturalism across a range of perspectives, employing insights from political science, sociology, literature, ethnography and cultural studies. It provides an urgent critical response to the challenging contexts of multiculturalism for Muslims in both Europe and the USA. Taken together, the contributions suggest that the institutionalisation of multiculturalism as a state-led vehicle for tolerance and integration requires a certain type of trustworthy ‘performance’ from minority groups, particularly Muslims. Even when this performance is forthcoming, existing discourses of integration and underlying patterns of mistrust can contribute to Muslim alienation on the one hand, and rising Islamophobia on the other.
Amina Yaqin is Senior Lecturer in Urdu and Postcolonial Studies at SOAS, University of London
Peter Morey is Professor of 20th Century English Literature at the University of Birmingham
Asmaa Soliman is Teaching Fellow at the University College of London and Visiting Fellow at the LSE European Institute