Sabancı University
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
CULTURAL STUDIES & CONFLICT ANALYSIS AND RESOLUTION JOINT SPEAKER SERIES
Growth of Salafism in Europe: Reproduction of Islamic Knowledge in Liminality
Ahmet YÜKLEYEN
(Croft Associate Professor of Anthropology and International Studies,
University of Mississippi)
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
14:30, FASS G043
Abstract:
Salafism grows in Europe because it addresses the needs and concerns of young “reborn” Muslims and converts. Salafism appeals to the immigrant-origin youth from Muslim majority countries and converts who are at the liminal stage of moving away from being “immigrant Muslim” and “ethnic Dutch” respectively to become “Dutch Muslim”. Salafism is appealing because it creates a communitas from the liminality of young “reborn” Muslims and Dutch converts. Salafist reproduction of Islamic knowledge promotes scientism and rituals to mitigate the ambiguity of liminality. Salafism represents the liminality of Muslim youth, which is both a transitional and creative stage with an open question on their incorporation as “Dutch Muslims”. This research is based on summer fieldworks among Salafists in the Netherlands in 2007-2010.
Speaker Bio:
Ahmet Yükleyen is Croft Associate Professor of Anthropology and International Studies at the University of Mississippi. He received his Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from Boston University in 2007. He has published articles in journals such as Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Contemporary Islam, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, Immigrants and Minorities, Public Choice, Insight Turkey, and Turkish Studies. His book titled Localizing Islam in Europe: Turkish Islamic Communities in Germany and the Netherlands was published by Syracuse University Press in 2012. His research interests include anthropology of religion, ethnicity, Muslims in Europe, Islamic movements, and multiculturalism. He has taught at Tufts University and joined the faculty of the Sociology and Anthropology department at the University of Mississippi in 2006 where he is also affiliated with the Croft Institute for International Studies. Professor Yükleyen is a senior resident fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars for 2011-12.
P.S.: The seminar will be in English.
