Concluding Words

Abstract

This research has explored the role and context of identity in political engagement, and in these concluding comments I would like to reflect on the research findings and their greater bearing. In order to answer the question whether religious, national and ethnic identity influence the political engagement of young second-generation British Muslims, the research explored identity as perceived by the respondents themselves. The varied methodological approaches used to explore the concept of identity underlined the difficulties involved in expressing and defining identity. The fluidity of the concept over time and its context-dependent variance highlight that identity is by no means a given, and is subtly ever-changing. During the course of this book, the most pertinent references to identity from the respondents were with regard to religion and nationality. The focus on religion and religious identity from policy-makers and media outlets means that being Muslim is never far from the respondents’ minds, and descriptively identifies many of these youths, whether because they wear hijab, sport beards or because their names are Mohammed or Aisha.