ABSTRACT
Through the lens of political moments, movement of people, and grassroots activism, this chapter explores the dynamics between and among pluralism, religious literacy, and changing communities in Western Europe. For the purposes of this research, the chapter focuses on France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK. Through the use of case studies, publications, and journalistic reporting, it finds direct correlations between the rise of right-wing populist nationalism and its attendant anti-Muslim sentiment. This complex context includes important contemporary changes such as the refugee crisis, populist narratives on patriotism and nationalism, and the treatment of minorities at a policy level. The chapter will explore community activism and its impact through covenantal pluralism. It concludes with critical insights as well as correlations among these factors, and how they unfold in today’s Europe, impacting European Muslims and wider European culture.
