Institutionalization of Islam in France: A Path from Ethnic to Religious Lobbying

The author analyses institualization of Islam in France, concentrating on two key aspects of the process: the rise of mechanisms for promotion of Muslim interests and the effect of competing foreign influences. Contrary to widespread opinion the Muslim community in France has not yet been fully established due to ethnic and ideological fragmentation. Thus, defense of religious rights becomes ethnicised. The French authorities remain unwilling to get involved in the organisation and financial issues related to the activities of religious institutions. The situation is favourable to various foreign actors aspiring to use these institutions in order to achieve their political objectives. Viewing religion as a tool for political influence they are trying to maintain loyalty of emigrants by financing mosques and exporting specially prepared imams that will spread various interpretations of Islam. This rivalry also affects the institualization of Islam that could be considered as a political and legal dimension of Muslim integration into French society. Due to this fact it is important to examine the activity of the “Democratic Union for French Muslims”, which is a political party founded in 2012. The Union appears to be a step forward in comparison with the Muslim parties of 1997 and 2009. As a higher stage of institualization the party fits well into the French political landscape owing to the absence of religious dogmas in its programme and its attempt to suggest social and economic solutions to the existing problems. Due to the particularities mentioned above the party is able to consolidate Muslims what would lead to the establishment of a more influential Muslim lobby.

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