Islamic Studies in European Higher Education: Navigating Academic and Confessional Approaches

The integration and reform of Islamic studies in universities across Germany, the UK, Turkey, Poland, and Belgium is explored, with a focus on the interaction between conventional university Islamic studies and the growing impact of confessional Islamic studies. Recent developments in Islamic studies in these countries are reviewed, and the impact of European states' policies concerning integration and countering extremism upon the consolidation of Islamic studies programmes is assessed. The book critically reviews the concepts used to distinguish between confessional and nonconfessional approaches and assesses their adequacy in light of recent changes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 30 April 2023
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The integration and reform of Islamic studies in universities across Germany, the UK, Turkey, Poland, and Belgium are examined in this comprehensive study. It explores the intricate interplay between conventional university Islamic studies and the growing influence of confessional Islamic studies in European states. Providing detailed accounts of recent developments in Islamic studies in these countries, the book showcases the impact of European states' policies concerning integration and countering extremism upon the consolidation of Islamic studies programmes.

Critically reviewing the concepts used to distinguish between confessional and nonconfessional approaches, the book assesses their adequacy in light of recent changes. The study highlights the numerous examples of recent linkages between universities and Islamic seminaries across Europe. In Germany, the federal top-down experiment of establishing departments of Islamic theology in five universities has now recruited over 2000 students, many of whom will end up teaching confessional Islam RE in schools. In the UK, local partnerships have been developed at under- and postgraduate level between universities such as Warwick, Birmingham, and Middlesex, as well as Islamic seminaries representing a range of Islamic traditions. Similar experiences are being developed on a smaller scale in other countries.

These developments, which have taken place against a backdrop of state pressure to integrate Islam and address radicalisation, challenge university traditions of scientific approaches to the study of Islam as well as the confessional expectations of faith-based Islamic theological training. By looking more closely at the developing experience in Germany and Britain and selected other countries, this volume explores how the two approaches are finding ways of creative cooperation.

The integration and reform of Islamic studies in universities across Germany, the UK, Turkey, Poland, and Belgium are examined in this comprehensive study. It explores the intricate interplay between conventional university Islamic studies and the growing influence of confessional Islamic studies in European states. Providing detailed accounts of recent developments in Islamic studies in these countries, the book showcases the impact of European states' policies concerning integration and countering extremism upon the consolidation of Islamic studies programmes.

Critically reviewing the concepts used to distinguish between confessional and nonconfessional approaches, the book assesses their adequacy in light of recent changes. The study highlights the numerous examples of recent linkages between universities and Islamic seminaries across Europe. In Germany, the federal top-down experiment of establishing departments of Islamic theology in five universities has now recruited over 2000 students, many of whom will end up teaching confessional Islam RE in schools. In the UK, local partnerships have been developed at under- and postgraduate level between universities such as Warwick, Birmingham, and Middlesex, as well as Islamic seminaries representing a range of Islamic traditions. Similar experiences are being developed on a smaller scale in other countries.

These developments, which have taken place against a backdrop of state pressure to integrate Islam and address radicalisation, challenge university traditions of scientific approaches to the study of Islam as well as the confessional expectations of faith-based Islamic theological training. By looking more closely at the developing experience in Germany and Britain and selected other countries, this volume explores how the two approaches are finding ways of creative cooperation.

The integration and reform of Islamic studies in universities across Germany, the UK, Turkey, Poland, and Belgium are examined in this comprehensive study. It explores the intricate interplay between conventional university Islamic studies and the growing influence of confessional Islamic studies in European states. Providing detailed accounts of recent developments in Islamic studies in these countries, the book showcases the impact of European states' policies concerning integration and countering extremism upon the consolidation of Islamic studies programmes.

Critically reviewing the concepts used to distinguish between confessional and nonconfessional approaches, the book assesses their adequacy in light of recent changes. The study highlights the numerous examples of recent linkages between universities and Islamic seminaries across Europe. In Germany, the federal top-down experiment of establishing departments of Islamic theology in five universities has now recruited over 2000 students, many of whom will end up teaching confessional Islam RE in schools. In the UK, local partnerships have been developed at under- and postgraduate level between universities such as Warwick, Birmingham, and Middlesex, as well as Islamic seminaries representing a range of Islamic traditions. Similar experiences are being developed on a smaller scale in other countries.

These developments, which have taken place against a backdrop of state pressure to integrate Islam and address radicalisation, challenge university traditions of scientific approaches to the study of Islam as well as the confessional expectations of faith-based Islamic theological training. By looking more closely at the developing experience in Germany and Britain and selected other countries, this volume explores how the two approaches are finding ways of creative cooperation.

The integration and reform of Islamic studies in universities across Germany, the UK, Turkey, Poland, and Belgium are examined in this comprehensive study. It explores the intricate interplay between conventional university Islamic studies and the growing influence of confessional Islamic studies in European states. Providing detailed accounts of recent developments in Islamic studies in these countries, the book showcases the impact of European states' policies concerning integration and countering extremism upon the consolidation of Islamic studies programmes.

Critically reviewing the concepts used to distinguish between confessional and nonconfessional approaches, the book assesses their adequacy in light of recent changes. The study highlights the numerous examples of recent linkages between universities and Islamic seminaries across Europe. In Germany, the federal top-down experiment of establishing departments of Islamic theology in five universities has now recruited over 2000 students, many of whom will end up teaching confessional Islam RE in schools. In the UK, local partnerships have been developed at under- and postgraduate level between universities such as Warwick, Birmingham, and Middlesex, as well as Islamic seminaries representing a range of Islamic traditions. Similar experiences are being developed on a smaller scale in other countries.

These developments, which have taken place against a backdrop of state pressure to integrate Islam and address radicalisation, challenge university traditions of scientific approaches to the study of Islam as well as the confessional expectations of faith-based Islamic theological training. By looking more closely at the developing experience in Germany and Britain and selected other countries, this volume explores how the two approaches are finding ways of creative cooperation.

The integration and reform of Islamic studies in universities across Germany, the UK, Turkey, Poland, and Belgium are examined in this comprehensive study. It explores the intricate interplay between conventional university Islamic studies and the growing influence of confessional Islamic studies in European states. Providing detailed accounts of recent developments in Islamic studies in these countries, the book showcases the impact of European states' policies concerning integration and countering extremism upon the consolidation of Islamic studies programmes.

Critically reviewing the concepts used to distinguish between confessional and nonconfessional approaches, the book assesses their adequacy in light of recent changes. The study highlights the numerous examples of recent linkages between universities and Islamic seminaries across Europe. In Germany, the federal top-down experiment of establishing departments of Islamic theology in five universities has now recruited over 2000 students, many of whom will end up teaching confessional Islam RE in schools. In the UK, local partnerships have been developed at under- and postgraduate level between universities such as Warwick, Birmingham, and Middlesex, as well as Islamic seminaries representing a range of Islamic traditions. Similar experiences are being developed on a smaller scale in other countries.

These developments, which have taken place against a backdrop of state pressure to integrate Islam and address radicalisation, challenge university traditions of scientific approaches to the study of Islam as well as the confessional expectations of faith-based Islamic theological training. By looking more closely at the developing experience in Germany and Britain and selected other countries, this volume explores how the two approaches are finding ways of creative cooperation.

The integration and reform of Islamic studies in universities across Germany, the UK, Turkey, Poland, and Belgium are examined in this comprehensive study. It explores the intricate interplay between conventional university Islamic studies and the growing influence of confessional Islamic studies in European states. Providing detailed accounts of recent developments in Islamic studies in these countries, the book showcases the impact of European states' policies concerning integration and countering extremism upon the consolidation of Islamic studies programmes.

Critically reviewing the concepts used to distinguish between confessional and nonconfessional approaches, the book assesses their adequacy in light of recent changes. The study highlights the numerous examples of recent linkages between universities and Islamic seminaries across Europe. In Germany, the federal top-down experiment of establishing departments of Islamic theology in five universities has now recruited over 2000 students, many of whom will end up teaching confessional Islam RE in schools. In the UK, local partnerships have been developed at under- and postgraduate level between universities such as Warwick, Birmingham, and Middlesex, as well as Islamic seminaries representing a range of Islamic traditions. Similar experiences are being developed on a smaller scale in other countries.

These developments, which have taken place against a backdrop of state pressure to integrate Islam and address radicalisation, challenge university traditions of scientific approaches to the study of Islam as well as the confessional expectations of faith-based Islamic theological training. By looking more closely at the developing experience in Germany and Britain and selected other countries, this volume explores how the two approaches are finding ways of creative cooperation.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399510851