Security issues pertaining the Immigration from North Africa to EU Research Paper

Security issues pertaining the Immigration from North Africa to EU countries - Research Paper Example Indeed, Ayuman Zohry asserts that, â€Å"the Mediterranean Sea marks one of the sharpest demographic and economic divides currently to be found on the world map† (Zohry p.3). The observation of the author is that, to the north, occupied by European nations, lies countries who characteristically have low demographic growth and levels or standards of living are actually high (Zohry p.3). Ironically, just down the south which now is heavily occupied by Maghreb nations, things are totally different; demographic growth is one of the highest in the world, their economies small and inefficient as compared to that of north, and life expectancy as compared to the north is low (Zohry p.3). Immigration to Europe by Maghrebians is contributed both by push and pull factors. For example, Europe is experiencing low presence of productive age bracket, as more citizens get old. As a result, most of the countries have reformed their immigration policies to attract immigrants to fill up job positions (Zohry p.4). On the other hand, rising levels of unemployment and poverty among the Maghreb countries is forcing the citizens to take all risks in order to escape to Europe where the prospects of having better lives are high (Zohry p.4). As immigration to the north remain purely an economic understanding, numerous evidences now point out that the presence of Maghreb citizens in Europe can no longer be solely attached to economic needs, but rather, they are becoming a source of increasing insecurity issues in the region. What needs to be remembered is that Maghrebians originating from a dominantly Arabic region where Islam religion and culture dominates that their integration into European world with purely different social and cultural orientation is not always easy. Moreover, economic hopes prior to immigration may not materialize, while survival opportunities may be harsh as a result of the new environment, thus the only option to survive may be to enter

A Critical Evaluation of How Muslims Living in Britain Can be Both Essay

A Critical Evaluation of How Muslims Living in Britain Can be Both British and Muslim - Essay Example Issues of identity in Britain have largely centred on the concept of ‘otherness’. Muslims were considered ‘aliens’ in the 1950s and 1960s. The term ‘alien’ means otherness, and also means difference, threat, and inequality (Ahmad and Sardar, 2012: 2). Towards the latter part of the 20th century, cultural difference became very popular and otherness became the latest thing. Difference is no longer intimidating; and otherness today is valued for its commercial aspect, the exoticism and delight it could provide. Still, identity has been one of the most important concerns for Muslims living in Britain. Contrary to earlier thoughts on identity, which view it in quite permanent terms, the present belief is changeable and continuously influenced by the evolving environment. This essay critically evaluates how Muslims living in Britain can be both British and Muslim. This essay analyses the historical events, social and political aspects, and cultural f actors that contributed to the creation of a distinctive Muslim identity. The different features of identity class, ethnicity and religion are believed to be subjected to historical dynamics, and it is viewed as being continuously reinterpreted and recreated according to external and internal factors. The diverse and worldly characteristic of British society is believed to create various opposing identities. A large number of Muslims living in Britain have had to harmonise their religious and ethnic features at the individual and societal levels. All have been made difficult by drastic cultural and social transformation in the latter part of the 20th century, forcing them to adjust and compromise (Norcliffe, 2004). As the impact of the cultural and societal norms from which they came from on behaviour and beliefs has disappeared with the appearance of a bigger population of Muslims born and educated in Britain, they have become more and more integrated into the British society. Bein g British and Muslim A national narrative that includes Islamic history would allow Muslims, especially younger generations of Britain-born Muslims, to understand how much of their own traditions are an important aspect of British traditions. This would help present and future generations gain a strong identity as British Muslims. However, there is a much larger benefit to be gained from Britain’s acceptance of its Islamic influences and the acceptance by British Muslims that British traditions are an important aspect of Islamic culture. Diasporas have historically influenced Islamic societies. Even the Prophet Muhammad moved from his homeland; and the community he formed in Medina were shaped by a diaspora (Ahmed, 2012). The historical Islamic culture was formed not by Arabs but by groups from Africa, the India, and central Asia. The Abbasid caliphate, widely viewed as the high point of Islamic learning and wisdom, was the product of a diaspora. The autonomous Muslim states that were built in the 20th century, like Malaysia and Pakistan, were usually formed in Britain by a diaspora (Gould, 2011). British Muslims can take advantage of this history to change Islam, as well as Muslim societies across the globe. The British Muslim scholars consider Britain as a perfect site of change. The study of Waqar Ahmad shows that British Muslim scholars have a dream of a democratic and diverse Islam. There are major internal changes that reveal â€Å"the fruition of a tangible Muslim consciousness among Muslim communities† (Ahmad and Sardar, 2012: 8). Muslims adapt to socially created and faith-oriented identities, and carefully choose how they define themselves. They made use of British history to defend their status like on Islamic schools, they formed their public