Islam, Race, and Pluralism in the Pakistani Diaspora

219 Pages·2018·2.768 MB·English

by  Craig Considine

Islam, Race, and Pluralism in the
Pakistani Diaspora
This bookexplores the Pakistani diaspora in a transatlantic context, enquiring
into the ways in which young first- and second-generation Pakistani Muslim
and non-Muslim men resist hegemonicidentity narratives and respond to their
marginalised conditions.
Drawingonrichdocumentary,ethnographicandinterviewmaterialgathered
in Boston and Dublin, Islam, Race, and Pluralism in the Pakistani Diaspora
introduces the term ‘Pakphobia’, a dividing line that is set up to define the
places that are safe and to distinguish ‘us’ and ‘them’ in a Pakistani diasporic
context. With a multiple case study design, which accounts for the hetero-
geneity of Pakistani populations, the author explores the language of fear and
how this fear has given rise to a ‘politics of fear’ whose aim is to distract and
divide communities.
A rich, cross-national studyofone of the largest minoritygroups in the US
and Western Europe, this book will appeal to sociologists, anthropologists,
political scientists, and geographers with interests in race and ethnicity,
migration and diasporic communities.
Craig Considine is a Catholic American of Irish and Italian descent. As a
sociologist he focuses on Islam, religious pluralism, Muslim Americans, Isla-
mophobia, Christian–Muslim relations, the life of the Prophet Muhammad,
race and ethnic relations, and the intersection of religion and nationalism.
Craig is currently a faculty member in the Department of Sociology at Rice
University in Houston, Texas. He holds a Ph.D. from Trinity College Dublin,
Ireland. Craig was born and bred in Needham, Massachusetts, and has lived
in Washington, DC and London, England.
Studies in Migration and Diaspora
Series Editor:
Anne J. Kershen, Queen Mary University of London, UK
Studies in Migration and Diaspora is a series designed to showcase the inter-
disciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of research in this important field.
Volumes in the series cover local, national and global issues and engage with
both historical and contemporary events. The books will appeal to scholars,
studentsandallthoseengagedinthestudyofmigrationanddiaspora.Amongst
the topics covered are minority ethnic relations, transnational movements and
the cultural, social and political implications of moving from ‘over there’, to
‘overhere’.
Polish Migration to the UK in the ‘New’ European Union
After 2004
Edited by Kathy Burrell
Gendering Migration
Masculinity, Femininity and Ethnicity in Post-War Britain
Edited by Louise Ryan and Wendy Webster
Contemporary British Identity
English Language, Migrants and Public Discourse
Christina Julios
Migration and Domestic Work
A European Perspective on a Global Theme
Edited by Helma Lutz
Negotiating Boundaries in the City
Migration, Ethnicity, and Gender in Britain
Joanna Herbert
The Cultures of Economic Migration
International Perspectives
Edited by Suman Gupta and Tope Omoniyi
Islam, Race, and Pluralism in
the Pakistani Diaspora
Craig Considine
Firstpublished2018
byRoutledge
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©2018CraigConsidine
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BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary
LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Names:Considine,Craig,author.
Title:Islam,race,andpluralisminthePakistanidiaspora/CraigConsidine.
Description:NewYork,NY:Routledge,2017.
Identifiers:LCCN2016057299|ISBN9781138207226(hardback)|
ISBN9781315462776(ebook)
Subjects:LCSH:Pakistanidiaspora.|Pakistanis.|Muslims--Non-Islamic
countries.|Islamophobia.
Classification:LCCDS380.5.C662017|DDC909/.04914122--dc23
LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2016057299
ISBN:978-1-138-20722-6(hbk)
ISBN:978-1-315-46277-6(ebk)
TypesetinTimesNewRoman
byTaylor&FrancisBooks
‘Considine unpicks the complex journey of identity through the lens of the
Pakistani experience both in the US and Europe. Placing both belief and
bigotry in context, challenging both inter and intra community tensions and
usingthepersonal accountsofindividuals,hehumanizesthemonolithicmyth
of “the Pakistani.” An important and timely contribution by a committed
bridge builder.’
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, British lawyer, politician and member
of the House of Lords
‘Pakistani Muslims are often seen as one of the most controversial ethnic and
religious groups on issues of identity and integration. In this well researched
and empathetic study of Pakistani diasporas in Ireland and the US, Craig
Considine has made a valuable contribution to the literature on Muslims in
the West and the language of “us” and “them” which continues to inform the
political and social narrative of citizenship.’
Dr. Mona Siddiqui, Professor in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim
Relations, Edinburgh University
‘Dr. Considine adds another brick to the foundations of inter-racial peace in
American and Irish societies. As an immigrant myself who migrated to
America from Pakistan as a young child, I have never seen anyone capture
the struggles and challenges of Pakistanis trying to find their place in the
West more accurately and intimately than Dr. Considine. As a devout
Catholic, he delivers upon the teaching of Jesus Christ – “Blessed are the
Peacemakers” – by writing this book.’
Tayyib Rashid, US Marine Corps Veteran, ‘The Muslim Marine’
To the bridge builders
Contents
List of tables viii
Foreword ix
Series editor’s preface xi
Acknowledgements xiii
1 Pakistanis ‘here’ and Pakistanis ‘there’ 1
2 Theorising Pakphobia 24
3 ‘Terrorism’ and the ‘immigration problem’ 54
4 Cross-cultural navigators and desh pardesh 75
5 The ‘good Muslim’/‘bad Muslim’dichotomy 100
6 New Pakistani ethnicities 129
7 Why civic values and pluralism matter 150
8 Dousing Pakphobia 172
Glossary 184
Appendix 1: Interviewees 188
Appendix 2: Semi-structured interview guide 190
Appendix 3: Streams of Islam 191
Index 195
Tables
A1.1 Profiles of first-generation semi-structured interview
participants 188
A1.2 Profiles of second-generation semi-structured interview
participants 189
A3.1 Streams of Islam 192
Foreword
Islam, Race, and Pluralism in the Pakistani Diaspora is an eloquently written
narrative.
Dr Considine is quickly establishing himself as a leading sociological and
Islamic scholar, and this is manifest from the opening pages of his excellent
book. Hecourageouslyconfronts someofthe mostcriticalissuesofour time–
such as racism, ethnocentrism, and Islamophobia – and provides thoughtful,
narrative-driven solutions. Focused primarily in Dublin and Boston, Islam,
Race, and Pluralism in the Pakistan Diaspora conveys the struggles many
young Pakistani men experience on a daily basis. His book walks the reader
through the science behind intolerance, the obstacles to overcoming that
intolerance,and the toolsto dismantlethoseobstacles.Dr Considine eloquently
conveysthediversitywithinthePakistani-IrishandPakistani-Americandiaspora
while maintaining an authenticity in voice and tone. At a time of immense
fearand confusionabout this demographic,DrConsidine’sbookprovides the
necessary nuance, scholarship, and compassion to rectify that confusion.
Islam, Race, and Pluralism in the Pakistani Diaspora is an excellent read for
lay readers and policy makers alike.
But let me step back for a moment.
In November 2011 I received an email from a young Ph.D. student named
Craig Considine. Craig was working on a project about 9/11 that sought to
build tolerance and interfaith understanding. He concluded his note, ‘I hope
you will help me in building these interfaith bridges which we so desperately
need.’
I didn’t know who Craig was then, but an ancillary reviewof hiswork told
meI was dealing withsomeonespecial. His tenacity for tolerance,hispassion
for pluralism, and his commitment to compassion resonated through his
words and hisworks. I responded, and a relationship developed based on the
common ambition of mutual respect, education, and humanitarian service.
Since then I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of getting to know Craig as a
colleague, then as a friend, and now as someone I consider a dear brother.
Over the years I have seen Craig elevate his voice for the downtrodden and
disenfranchised in an honest and sincere manner. He challenges bigotry
wherever he sees it and does so with education and empathy. He loathes