Culture/Religion
Perhaps the most prevalent change in European
culture over the past decade has been the growing Muslim population as hundreds
of immigrants from Northern Africa have poured into Western Europe. Moreover,
with the low fertility rates of ethnic European women and the high growth rate
of the Muslim minorities, Muslims are a growing percentage of the European
population. Hence Europe's Muslim
population has more than doubled in the past 30 years and will have doubled
again by 2015. If the current growth rate continues, Muslims are expected to be
the majority of the population in Western Europe by 2050.
The introduction of
this large Muslim populace in a Europe where nations have developed their own
specific cultures for hundreds of years leads to great social friction.
Additionally, these large Muslim communities have retained their own customs and
languages rather than integrating into the mainstream nation, thus creating
problems when attempting to get jobs in an already difficult economy.
Furthermore, Europe
has responded to the situation by trying to limit Muslim immigration and by
promoting secular policies such as banning all religious symbols when working
for a public company. This is evident with the rise of right leaning
nationalist parties, who represent the fears of the white majority about the
growing Muslim community. Yet not enough is being done to promote the active
economic and social integration of Muslims in European society.
My opinion of the
issue is that the current disintegrated growth of the Muslim community will
lead to perpetual conflict and social tension between the European and Muslim
populations. The rise in the nationalist parties is just an early sign of the
social unrest and tumult that will occur if the issue is not resolved. Hence,
to make the issue more sustainable, the Muslim immigration must be limited
until the proper integration techniques are developed. The current approach to
integrate the Muslim community, secularization, not only hurts positive
organized religion but also makes the Muslim feel as if they are being
targeted. Thus, in my opinion the key to integrating immigrants to mainstream
society is by promoting a common ideal of economic prosperity and mobility; a
European version of the American dream.
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