He contends that the rise of Islamic terrorism has neither discredited multiculturalism nor heralded a clash of civilizations. Instead, it has highlighted a central challenge for the 21st century - the urgent need to include Muslims in contemporary conceptions of democratic citizenship.
In this compelling new book, Modood shows that inclusion is not possible within some narrow forms of liberalism. He argues that while different minorities need to be accommodated in different ways, a single template is not appropriate. He suggests, moreover, that such differential accommodation or multiculturalism cannot be the task of the state alone but must be shared across different civil society sectors.
Controversially, he sees the revival of ideological secularism as an obstacle to multicultural integration but institutional secularism as an important resource for accommodating Muslims.
This book will appeal to students, researchers and teachers of politics, sociology and public policy but also to general readers interested in the prospects of multiculturalism today.
For discussion of Modood's ideas, see openDemocracy.
* Exam copies only available to lecturers for whom the book may be suitable as a course text.
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"An accessible, clear, methodical and persuasive defence of multiculturalism."
Muslim World Book Review
"This important book is an authoritative and subtle analysis as well as a robust and well argued defence of multiculturalism. It cuts through much conceptual fog surrounding the subject, and shows why multiculturalism in some form is a necessary precondition of social cohesion."
Lord Bhikhu Parekh, University of Westminster
"A new book on multiculturalism by one of its leading theorists is an event in its own right. But Tariq Modood's intervention, Multiculturalism: A Civic Idea, is not just of academic interest. It is politically significant. For it takes its place in a gathering movement to retrieve multiculturalism from the dustbin of history into which an unlikely alliance of conservatives, radical left gurus and the liberal commentariat have threatened to consign it ever since 9/11."
Nick Pearce, openDemocracy
"Modood tackles authoritatively the biggest challenge to race relations in the UK, that of the controversial and sensitive debate around Islam and British Muslims. 4/5"
Zulfkar Hussain, Nursing Standard
"Multiculturalism is, in my view, the best introduction to what has become a central concern of contemporary liberal politics. More than that, it is a significant contribution to the ongoing debate on the acceptable limits of cultural difference in a democracy. Well-informed on questions of crucial fact, skilled in the deployment of relevant social theory, Modood has given us an important book that should be read carefully by everyone who wants to think sanely about our plural societies."
Talal Asad, CUNY Graduate Center, New York
"Modood's important and challenging book is a much needed voice of caution in the headlong rush to abandon multiculturalism and all it stands for. There is much that critics of multiculturalism can and must learn from this book. It should also be compulsory reading for all engaged in British political life."
Paul Kelly, London School of Economics and Political Science
"Modood's admirable formulation of multiculturalism ... is a persuasive and well-argued restatement of multiculturalism that should be required reading for the commentariat, policy wonks, politicians and community activists."
Yahya Birt, Director, City Circle and Fellow, Islamic Foundation
