Perception of Islam and Muslims in the Czech Society: The Criticism of Islam in the Public Sphere in Two Examples

HAVLÍČEK, Jakub. Perception of Islam and Muslims in the Czech Society: The Criticism of Islam in the Public Sphere in Two Examples. In Jedynak, Witold, Jarosław Kinal, Dušan Lužný, Daniel Topinka. Sociology of Religion. Selected Aspects from Central European Region. Rzeszów: Univerzity of Rzeszów, 2016, p. 80-88. ISBN 978-83-64804-46-5.

Basic information

• Original name: Perception of Islam and Muslims in the Czech Society: The Criticism of Islam in the Public Sphere in Two Examples
• Name in Czech: Vnímání islámu a muslimů v české společnosti: Kritika islámu ve veřejné sféře na dvou příkladech
• Name (in English): Perception of Islam and Muslims in the Czech Society: The Criticism of Islam in the Public Sphere in Two Examples
• Authors: HAVLÍČEK, Jakub.
• Edition: Rzeszów, Sociology of Religion. Selected Aspects from Central European Region. p. 80-88, 9 pp. 2016.
• Publisher: Univerzity of Rzeszów

Other information

• Type of outcome: Chapter(s) of a specialized book
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• ISBN: 978-83-64804-46-5
• Keywords (in Czech): islám, muslimové, sociální identita, kritika islámu, veřejná sféra
• Keywords in English: Islam; Muslims; social identity; criticism of Islam; public sphere
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Miloš Zeman’s comments on Islam as well as the criticism of Islam on the page of IVCRN and the analysis of the content and the context of criticizing Islam and Muslims reveal that the perception of Islam and Muslims is connected to the process of defining and understanding Czech national, cultural and social identity. This identity is defined as the opposite of Islamic socio-cultural features which are depicted rather negatively. In this stereotypical and homogenizing perspective Islam and Muslims represent “anti-civilization” (as expressed by Miloš Zeman). From this perspective, the Huntingtonian “culture clash” is inevitable. The connection of criticism of Islam and Muslims to the understanding of Czech socio-cultural identity can be seen as a key to the political potential of this criticism: we will probably see more examples of this criticism in the near future in connection with political competition in the public sphere of the Czech society.

Abstract (in Czech)

Výroky Miloše Zemana o islámu i kritika islámu na stránkách IVČRN a analýza obsahu a kontextu kritiky islámu a muslimů ukazují, že vnímání islámu a muslimů souvisí s procesem definování a chápání české národní, kulturní a sociální identity. Tato identita je definována jako protiklad islámských sociokulturních rysů, které jsou zobrazovány spíše negativně. V této stereotypní a homogenizující perspektivě představují islám a muslimové "anticivilizaci" (jak se vyjádřil Miloš Zeman). Z tohoto pohledu je huntingtonovský "střet kultur" nevyhnutelný. Spojení kritiky islámu a muslimů s chápáním české sociokulturní identity lze považovat za klíč k politickému potenciálu této kritiky: v blízké budoucnosti se pravděpodobně dočkáme dalších příkladů této kritiky v souvislosti s politickou soutěží ve veřejné sféře české společnosti.

Abstract (in English)

Miloš Zeman’s comments on Islam as well as the criticism of Islam on the page of IVCRN and the analysis of the content and the context of criticizing Islam and Muslims reveal that the perception of Islam and Muslims is connected to the process of defining and understanding Czech national, cultural and social identity. This identity is defined as the opposite of Islamic socio-cultural features which are depicted rather negatively. In this stereotypical and homogenizing perspective Islam and Muslims represent “anti-civilization” (as expressed by Miloš Zeman). From this perspective, the Huntingtonian “culture clash” is inevitable. The connection of criticism of Islam and Muslims to the understanding of Czech socio-cultural identity can be seen as a key to the political potential of this criticism: we will probably see more examples of this criticism in the near future in connection with political competition in the public sphere of the Czech society.