Party competition on Muslims and Islam in Germany – a mixed method approach

This paper deals with party competition on the issue of Muslims and Islam in Germany. First, it relates to the concept of issue attention analyzing the amount of statements referring to the issue of the integration of Islam in parliamentary plenary debates in Germany during 2000 and 2024. The aim is to uncover both differences in issue attention across parties and over time in the politicization and problematization of Muslims and Islam. Second, we refer to results of a qualitative interview study conducted in 2024 with MPs from parties represented in the German parliament, the Bundestag. Here, the goal is to examine particular views parties hold on the issue and also uncover cleavages both across and within parties. The paper gives insights into how long-term developments such as religious pluralization or the rise of right-wing populism as well situational factors such as terrorist attacks influence the way parties refer to and discuss the role of Muslims and Islam in a Western society such as Germany.