Multiculturalism and the Position of Islam
Introduction
Multiculturalism, and the position of the Islam specifically, has been subject to numerous debates in Europe. In the Netherlands, aversion to Islamic communities has been observed, where politicians like Geert Wilders received substantial support for their campaigning for measures against these communities. The impact of greater cultural diversity on gay rights is significantly present in this discussion. Moreover, a shift in the position of the gay community and gay rights in politics is taking place, where multiculturalism is claimed to be undermining their acceptance in society (Keuzenkamp, 2010). Pim Fortuyn, being the first arguing for anti-multiculturalism to safeguard the gay community, openly dismissed religious principles and cultural traditions of the Islamic community in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders’ political party, “Party for the Freedom”, seems to move in a similar direction, where nationalist policies are promoted, multiculturalism is criticized (especially the presence of a Islamic community), and the rights of the “original” Dutch citizens, including the gay community, are centrally positioned. This “exclusion of racial and class others” rooted in the inclusion of homosexuals in “body politics” has been conceptualized by Puar as ‘homonationalism’ (Aydemir, 2012, p. 188).
In this paper, the position of gay rights in the discussion surrounding (anti-) multiculturalism in Dutch politics is examined. It will be argued that ‘Homonationalism is increasingly used in Dutch politics to support anti-multiculturalist views’. Firstly, two crucial developments, i.e. the ‘normalization process’ of homosexuality on the one side and the emergence of a multicultural society on the other side, are separately presented. Next, the current clash of these two developments, and its political ramifications are examined. For this examination, the concept ‘homonationalism’ is presented. Afterwards, and lastly, the relation between ‘homonationalism’ and
Multiculturalism, and the position of the Islam specifically, has been subject to numerous debates in Europe. In the Netherlands, aversion to Islamic communities has been observed, where politicians like Geert Wilders received substantial support for their campaigning for measures against these communities. The impact of greater cultural diversity on gay rights is significantly present in this discussion. Moreover, a shift in the position of the gay community and gay rights in politics is taking place, where multiculturalism is claimed to be undermining their acceptance in society (Keuzenkamp, 2010). Pim Fortuyn, being the first arguing for anti-multiculturalism to safeguard the gay community, openly dismissed religious principles and cultural traditions of the Islamic community in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders’ political party, “Party for the Freedom”, seems to move in a similar direction, where nationalist policies are promoted, multiculturalism is criticized (especially the presence of a Islamic community), and the rights of the “original” Dutch citizens, including the gay community, are centrally positioned. This “exclusion of racial and class others” rooted in the inclusion of homosexuals in “body politics” has been conceptualized by Puar as ‘homonationalism’ (Aydemir, 2012, p. 188).
In this paper, the position of gay rights in the discussion surrounding (anti-) multiculturalism in Dutch politics is examined. It will be argued that ‘Homonationalism is increasingly used in Dutch politics to support anti-multiculturalist views’. Firstly, two crucial developments, i.e. the ‘normalization process’ of homosexuality on the one side and the emergence of a multicultural society on the other side, are separately presented. Next, the current clash of these two developments, and its political ramifications are examined. For this examination, the concept ‘homonationalism’ is presented. Afterwards, and lastly, the relation between ‘homonationalism’ and