Future of British Muslim Studies to Be Discussed in Cardiff University

The Muslims in Britain Research Network in partnership with the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, Cardiff University organize a conference entitles Future of British Muslim Studies, aims to promote scholarly and public understandings of Islam and the life of Muslim communities in the UK.

Since the Muslims in Britain Research Network was established over 25 years ago, British Muslim studies has grown exponentially. Yet despite this, the field faces significant challenges and uncertainty about its future direction. With so much of the focus on British Muslims being driven – both in academia and in wider society – by instrumental concerns about security and terrorism, much needed debates about the field’s core goals and purpose have often been obscured.

This one day event will bring together those from within and outside of academia who have an interest in shaping the study of Muslim Britain in order to discuss and debate the challenges facing the field and where it should go from here.

What should British Muslim studies do, and who should it be for? Should it be seen as part of a project of improving Muslims’ rights and representation, as with the case of comparable fields like Black Studies, or remain at a critical distance from Muslim politics? Is the field itself sufficiently inclusive of the diversity of Muslim and non-Muslim voices, and is sufficient recognition given to those outside the academy producing research into Muslims? When, and how, should academics partner with Muslim and community and activist groups? With researchers in the field scattered across disciplines, and with religion increasingly marginalized in the academy, how can the field cohere and have a positive impact?

Important Data

Conference Date: April 24, 2019

Venue: Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

Email: MuslimsinBritainRN@gmail.com.

This conference seeks to create a space to present new research and debate issues relating to the study of British Muslims. It will cover:

• Emerging research agendas in, and challenges for, the field of British Muslim studies
  • The politics of producing knowledge about Muslims in the West
  • The relationship between academic scholarship and Muslims’ presence, voice and activism
  • Partnerships between academic and Muslim community groups in the UK
  • ‘Insider’ and ‘outsider’ dynamics in the study of British Muslims
  • Complementarities and tensions between disciplinary approaches to the study of Muslims and Islam
  • Securing the study of Muslims and Islam within and beyond UK higher education

Speakers so far Confirmed Include:

– Professor Sophie Gilliat-Ray, Cardiff University
– Dr Sundas Ali, University of Oxford
– Dr Therese O’Toole, University of Bristol
– Muhammed Reza Tajri, Al-Madhi Institute
– Dr Sadek Hamid, MBRN
– Dr Fauzia Ahmad, Goldsmiths, University of London
– Dr Stephen Jones, University of Birmingham
– Professor Alison Scott-Baumann, SOAS