The Effect of Actions of Islamic Radicals on the Self-conceptualization of North American Muslims

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of Canadian and American Muslims in the post 9/11 period in relation to the effect of the actions of Islamic radicals on the self-conceptualization of North American Muslims’ identity and social inclusion. The paper analyzes data collected from semi-structured interviews with Muslim clerics on both sides of the Canadian-American border, as well as data collected from questionnaires distributed to Muslim students at Brock University and the State University of New York at Buffalo. The paper examines the ways in which the actions of Islamic radical groups abroad shape the identity and social inclusion of Canadian Muslims in the Niagara region in comparison to American Muslims in Buffalo, New York. The paper utilizes a cross-border analysis approach while employing symbolic interactionism and the mosaic and melting pot theories as theoretical frameworks in analysing the data collected during the study. This paper demonstrates that although both Canada and the United States responded to the events of 9/11 similarly, Muslims in the two nations maintain different reactions to similar events.