In less than 100 years, the flow of people coming in and out of Europe has been reversed. After years of being a net exporter, Europe has turned into the world's most diverse recipient of people. Today, Europeans collectively enjoy an unprecedented state of welfare, opportunity, and stability. These advantageous conditions have inevitably drawn many newcomers to countries such as Spain, France, Italy, England, and Germany. The boosters of immigration proclaim that non-European immigrants are making a significant contribution to the greatness of Europe. However, last year's London bombings and recent riots in Paris suggest that Europe is facing a crisis of integration, particularly Muslim integration.
The nature of Islam and the principles of a secular state have overlapping spheres of influence. The teachings of the Qu'ran are readily applied by Muslims to issues that are not supposed to be regulated by religion in a non-religious state. Muslim immigrants also generally come from rural and traditional areas of their countries of origin in deeply steeped in traditional values. Ironically, Muslims living in the suburbs of Paris or in enclaves around London are more conservative and religiously oriented than their counterparts in the streets of Rabat or Cairo. The former have adhered to a set of beliefs and practices no longer relevant to the progressive and middle classes in the sending countries.
When speaking of European models of integration we generally refer to the British multicultural model and the French 'republican model'. Both models have failed to effectively integrate the arriving Muslims. Without historical perspective, countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Italy have yet to adopt a concise approach to the problem of immigration. British multiculturalism, often referred to as the most comprehensive model of integration, promotes the coexistence of all minorities within a larger society, encouraging the maintenance of individual cultural identities jointly with accommodation into a wider society. While this approach may seem coherent and understanding, it has also allowed Al-Qaeda to operate freely in British soil under the pretext of religious tolerance.
On the other extreme, the French 'republican model' has neglected the existing differences across French society. This model, based on universalism and egalitarianism, treats immigrants as permanent settlers and French citizens. However, the republican values of freedom, equality, and fraternity have not been able to accommodate Arab immigrants and their descendants (les Beurs) into modern French society. The second and third generations of Muslim youths have not been given equal opportunities to participate in French society. At the beginning of the 21st century France is experiencing the backlashes of a marginalized community in the form of riots and public disturbances. Urban riots in France are not new, but unprecedented in magnitude.
So what should European countries do to integrate their Muslim populations? This difficult question will continue to trouble European policymakers for years to come. Given Europe's declining birth rate and demand for cheap labor, immigration is generally welcomed from an economic perspective. However, Muslim immigrants, like all other groups in society, must remember that they should play by the same rules. No government or policy should interfere with the private practices and values of Muslim immigrants. But Muslims, too, must learn to coexist when security concerns are at stake.
