Religious Conversions in the Mediterranean World

Abstract

One of the main objectives of this series is to explore the relationship between Islam, nationalism and citizenship in its diverse expressions. The series intends to provide a space for approaches that recognize the potential of Islam to permeate and inspire national forms of identification, and systems of government as well as its capacity to inspire oppositional politics, alternative modes of belonging and the formation of counterpublics in a variety of local, national or transnational contexts.By recognizing Islam as a transnational phenomenon and situating it within transdisciplinary and innovative theoretical contexts, the series will showcase approaches that examine aspects of the formation and activation of Muslim experience, identity and social action. In order to do justice to, and make better sense of contemporary Islam, the series also seeks to combine the best of current comparative, genuinely interdisciplinary research that takes on board cutting-edge work in sociology, anthropology, nationalism studies, social movement research and cultural studies as well as history and politics. As research on Islam as a form of identity is rapidly expanding and as interest both within the academia and the policy community is intensifying, we believe that there is an urgent need for coherent and innovative interventions, identifying the questions that will shape ongoing and future research and policy, and exploring and formulating conceptual and methodological responses to current challenges.The proposed series is intended to play a part in such an effort. It will do so by addressing a number of key questions that we and a large number of specialist interlocutors within the academia, the policy community, but also within Muslim organizations and networks have been grappling with. Our approach is premised on our understanding of Islam and the concept of the nation as resources for social identification and collective action in the broadest sense of these terms, and the need to explore the ways in which these interact with each other, inform public debate, giving rise to a diversity of experiences and practices.We would like to thank The Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, for their support in initiating the series.