Young Muslims disillusioned with mainstream politics but politicised in other ways

Published on 25, November, 2024

Young Muslims are less interested in mainstream national politics in Scotland and instead are increasingly involved with local and global issues – according to a new study by the University of Sunderland and Newcastle University.

Researchers spoke to young Muslims aged 14 to 18 who lived in Glasgow to understand their engagement with politics and the extent to which this was shaped by their own personal experiences.

The research took place as a follow up to a similar study in 2017 which found that while young Muslims participated in politics in some form, and some had been inspired by Scottish nationalism, there was a concern about media and political representations of Muslims. There was also a recognition that everyday experiences of Islamophobia made participation in public life a challenge for many.

In this latest study, which was carried out with colleagues from the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion at the University of Sunderland, Scottish politics and Scottish independence were less of an issue although there was a generally positive view of more Muslim politicians in leading roles in Holyrood. However, many participants doubted whether it would make a difference, and were unsure that taking part in elections could bring about lasting change. They also felt that work in areas such as anti-racism or public safety had stagnated since 2014.

Instead, young people talked about playing an active role in their local communities, with some involved in fundraising for issues ranging from cystic fibrosis research to disaster relief following the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, while others took part in awareness raising in relation to anti-racism, migrant rights and Islamophobia. This was often done through their local mosques, schools or community groups, and was seen also as an opportunity for activities that celebrate different cultural identities.

The researchers found that awareness and interest in global issues had also increased, and most participants expressed particular concern over events in Palestine in particular. Several related their interest in global politics to the personal experiences of friends and family members, connecting experiences of fleeing war and seeking asylum to ongoing conflicts.

Many young Muslims were also critical of what they saw as a racist double standard in much media coverage of the war in Palestine and felt that there was negative, unbalanced and unsympathetic reporting of Muslims in mainstream media outlets. Although some recognised that social media platforms also could not be trusted, many said they did get most of their information online, from sources such as Reddit, TikTok, or Instagram. The fact that young people have grown up with social media helps them to recognise what’s true, some said.

Personal experiences of Islamophobia and racism was a continuing issue, the research highlighted. Many young female participants said that they had experienced Islamophobic bullying at school – often related to religious clothing such as headscarves and hijabs. Many voiced frustration about the scarcity of education about racism and Islamophobia in schools, where they argued anti-racist rhetoric was not combined with enough action.

Dr Robin Finlay, Partnerships Manager and Research Associate in the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion at the University of Sunderland, said: “Comparing this report to our 2017 research highlights the evolving nature of young Muslims’ political interests. In 2017, many young people were strongly motivated by the prospect of Scottish independence, whereas our recent findings reveal a declining engagement with independence debates. Nonetheless, the research underscores the enduring issue of Islamophobia in the everyday lives of young Muslims.”

Professor Peter Hopkins, Professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University, said: “This research took place against the backdrop of Black Lives Matter, the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and increased global instability. So it was not surprising that young Muslims felt that global politics was threaded through their lives through their own identity and family background.”

Dr Joel White, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Newcastle University, added: “Our research demonstrates that many young Muslims in Scotland feel let down by mainstream political parties and those in power, particularly in terms of the gap between political rhetoric around anti-racism and the lack of concrete actions to address this in their schools and communities. They connected this to what they saw as a shameful political silence around Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which for many of them represented a key formative moment of engaging in protest and activism.”

The report was launched at an event hosted by Community Policy Forum and attended by key figures including Dr Zabir Ahmed, MP for Glasgow South West, and Linsay Taylor, Chair of Interfaith Scotland and Trustee of the Muslim Council of Scotland.

‘Young Muslims in Scotland: politics, racism, and the media’ is available to view here.

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