ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the theoretical framework from which the theme of Jewish-Muslim relations is approached. The framework is rooted in Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice, social identity theory, and Jan Thurlings’ theory on the social position, attitude, and strategy of minorities in relation to their environment, as well as insights derived from existing research on contemporary Jewish-Muslim relations in Europe. Based upon this framework, the assumption is that these relations are influenced by the dynamic interplay of a variety of institutional, positional, and contextual factors such as the influence of historical events, trigger events, public opinion, mainstream Christian churches, the media, and governments.
