The last decade has seen an increasing interest in understanding the European (and American) West’s relationship with Islam. This special issue is dedicated to exploring the historical, cultural and political context within which prejudice about Muslims/Islam has been constructed, out of which it has emerged and in which it is manifested. Articles will cover historical and/or contemporary subjects. Since around the eleventh century through to the contemporary period, the West has had its own perceptions about Muslims/Islam. This special issue concentrates on the contemporary period, but it also hopes to place this debate in its historical context: by examining, for example, the mediaeval period as a forerunner to contemporary forms of prejudice; and the impact of colonial expansion in the Muslim world. We invite contributions from a wide range of disciplines, including politics, sociology, philosophy, history, international relations, law and cultural studies. We are also interested in understanding the different levels at which prejudice emerges and operates: the local, the national and the transnational.

We are particularly interested in contributions that address the following questions:

• what form does prejudice against Muslims/Islam take?
• how does the historical critique of Muslims/Islam impact on contemporary forms of prejudice?
• what is the relationship between prejudice against Muslims/Islam and other forms of prejudice, e.g. racism, anti-semitism, sexism?
• what is the role of other religions and religious groups in the construction of contemporary prejudice against Muslims/Islam
• what are the processes through which prejudice against Muslims/Islam is transformed into structural forms of institutional discrimination?
• how can legal and policy responses provide solutions to direct and institutional discrimination against Muslims?

Abstracts of 300 words addressing these and related questions should be submitted along with a one page CV as e-mail attachment by 31 October 2007. We welcome preliminary enquiries to discuss how ideas can be developed into articles. All final submissions will be due on 30 April 2008. Submissions must be the original work/s of the author/s and will be subject to peer review.

Send abstracts or enquiries either to Maleiha Malik, School of Law, King’s College, The Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, maleiha.malik@kcl.ac.uk or Barbara Rosenbaum, Patterns of Prejudice, PO Box 52456, London NW3 9BE, b.rosenbaum@dsl.pipex.com