Essays on Secularism and Multiculturalism

An active participant in public debates, Modood's book is a must-read for scholars, students, and laymen to understand the relationship between multiculturalism and secularism. Modood's analysis adds to the emerging literature challenging the separation of state and religion as the ideal model of secularism. In addition, it demystifies the category of secularism in the West by adding rich layers to lived experiences of western societies. -- 'Journal of Church and State'

Modood's Essays on Secularism and Multiculturalism is a rich assembly of chapters that reflect the last decade and a half of his intellectual development as he continues to deepen the discussion. Although virtually all chapters are republications of earlier work, the book is not simply a compendium of existing material. His original introductory essay makes plain that its purpose is to outline his view of the relationship between secularism and multiculturalism, primarily in Britain, but with evidence and extensions to the rest of Europe and beyond. The book therefore has a coherent organisational logic that connects it all the way back to Modood's earliest work. Tariq Modood has long been one of the most insightful and original voices in discussions about multiculturalism. For those not familiar with his work, this book is an ideal point of entry into his thinking. Even for those who have followed Modood over a longer stretch of time, Essays on Secularism and Multiculturalism provides a rewarding overview of the central elements of his public political philosophy. -- Erik Bleich, Middlebury College

Tariq Modood is one of the foremost thinkers on multicultural citizenship in Europe and globally, combining conceptual rigour with empirical sensitivity in his work. This book offers a precious collection of his conceptual and empirical insights as they have evolved in the last decade, in the midst of important political and scholarly contestations of multiculturalism. The book is a must-read for both scholars and students in the field of ethnicity and citizenship. -- Anna Triandafyllidou, Ryerson University

Tariq Modood has long been one of Britain's leading commentators on the challenges of multiculturalism. These have only become more acute as they have become entwined with a shifting landscape of religious commitments. In these essays, Modood brings his wise voice to the confusing mixture of claims about secularism, religious liberty, and ethno-religious identity. -- Craig Calhoun, Arizona State University

Over the years, Modood has been reflecting deeply on complex issues raised by secularism and multiculturalism, and has emerged as a major theorist. These essays amply justify his reputation and are a most welcome addition to the growing body of literature. -- Bhikhu Parekh, Fellow of the British Academy and House of Lords

An engaged and theoretically nuanced rendering of the multicultural vision that builds bridges between seemingly divergent points of view. Taking the anxieties of the majority seriously and affirming the value of a secular framework, it spells out what equal citizenship entails in a deeply diverse society. -- Gurpreet Mahajan, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Tariq Modood is Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy and Director at University of Bristol Research Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship at School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS), University of Bristol. He has held over 40 grants and consultancies (UK, European and US), has co-authored and co-edited over 35 books and reports and over 200 articles or chapters in political philosophy, sociology and public policy. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2017.