ESC Event: Hindu Muslim Relations: What Europe Might Learn from India

Convener(s): European Studies Centre, St Antony's College

Speaker(s): Professor Joerg Friedrichs (ODID)

In his latest book, Joerg Friedrichs reconstructs Hindu-Muslim relations from a European standpoint. Drawing from the Indian context, he explores options for Western Europe, a region grappling with the refugee crisis and populist reactions to the growth of Muslim minorities. Based on extensive interviews with Indians from diverse backgrounds, from politicians to social activists and from the middle class to slum dwellers, he investigates a wide range of perspectives: Hindu and Muslim, religious and secular, moderate and militant. In this talk, Joerg will present these perspectives with view to the emerging situation in Europe. He will show how India can serve Europe not only as a model but also as a warning. Thus, European liberals may learn not only from the past achievements of Indian secularism but also from its present crisis. 

Joerg Friedrichs is Associate Professor at the Department of International Development and Fellow of St Cross College. Taking a broad transdisciplinary approach to research, his main interests are in the fields of international relations and political sociology. Coming from an increasingly multicultural and multi-religious Europe, he has worked on Muslim minorities and their relations with non-Muslim majorities outside the West. In the context of this project, he has published on Hindu-Muslim relations in India and on Han-Muslim relations in China, as well as China’s relations with its Muslim-majority neighbouring countries. 

Please email: european.studies@sant.ox.ac.uk in order to register your attendance.