Adis Duderija

The University of Western Australia

Identity Construction Among Western (Born) Muslims: The role of Religious Tradition on Western Muslims' Social Orientation.

Abstract

This presentation discusses the changes in western Muslims’ identity construction as a result of process of Muslim communities immigration and transmission from a religious /cultural majority status to that of minority one. In this context the paper notes the increased saliency of religion-based identity construction among western Muslims and western born generations in particular. The presentation also discusses the new forms of western Muslims’ religiosity briefly describing two whose social orientations towards the broader western society are diametrically opposite. In this context it highlights the increased importance of religious tradition and its variant interpretations play in the construction of different ways of “being a western Muslim” as well as the way they socially orient themselves towards the broader society. \

Bio

Adis Duderija has a background in teaching and education. He holds an Honours in the German language and an Honours equivalent in International Relations. Both from UWA. He is currently doing his Doctorate at the School of Social and Cultural Studies at the University of Western Australia. His academic interests are in Islamic hermeneutics and religious identity construction among Muslim youth in Western liberal democracies. He is also interested in social justice issues and inter-faith dialogue. Adis serves on the working committee of a recently established inter-faith group in Perth carrying the name of "Abrahamic Alliances". He also does volunteer work for Oxfam's Campaign and Education Network.