ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the intersection of migration, religion, and schooling in liberal democratic states. It discusses the nature and formation of school policies as guided in part by liberal democratic principles, or, in a word, by principles of classical liberalism. The book explains liberal perspectives on autonomy and cultural membership, followed by liberal accounts of autonomy and religious membership. It addresses the degree to which school laws and policies concerning reasonable church-state relations afford religion with respect to student identity formation and choice-making. The book examines what reasonable and informed recognition and accommodations mean for religious migrant students. It begins by examining theoretical perspectives on religion and integration, with particular attention devoted to segmented assimilation theory and the role of religion within selective acculturation. The book provides a multidisciplinary discussion of religion and the selective acculturation process and children's development of autonomy.
