The Integration Problem of Muslims in Europe: Constructing a Shared Life-World for European Societies and Muslims in Europe

Sammanfattning: Abstract The integration of Muslim immigrants into the European societal sphere has have recently received the utmost concern of Europeans. This is because Muslim status has changed from ?immigrant? to ?threat? or ?challenge? to peace and prosperity of Europe in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks. Muslim exclusion from social life is now a problem necessitating an urgent solution. At this point, this study attempts to look for a ?shared life-world? for the Europeans and the Muslims in Europe. It proposes the conduct of deliberative democracy through deliberation and argumentation among rational and equal individuals. Communicative action through which nobody dominates the other and everybody is included with their validity claims shall nurture the dialogue between the European societies and Muslim communities in Europe. While doing so, the study moves from the current political fabric of Europe which is dual-track of nation states and the European Union. By analyzing the failure of nation state strategies to integrate those Muslims, it suggests that the EU, whereas it has a limited concern of the case of Muslims based on immigration policies, can be a viable arena for a shared life-world of communicative action between the Muslims and Europeans as it puts forward the all embracing governance based on the inclusion of diversities.