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rfmcdonaldI've been doing a certain amount of work in studying Eurabia, the concept (or belief) describing the conversion of Europe into an Islamic continent owing to excessively high rates of population growth among Muslims, the development of a visible Muslim presence, and the decadence of Europe's political elites. It's the sort of concept that would actually be correct if people didn't behave like people and reality was completely different: a simple overview of the numbers and trends, and a note of actually existing policies in European states, is enough to suggest that the reverse is true. American author Ralph Peters is likely right to argue that a mass expulsion of Muslims from Europe is considerably more likely on the basis of current trends.
But any number of people believe in Eurabia regardless. Arguably a growing number of people believe in the impending Eurabianizaton of their homelands--even outside Europe, as evidenced by the growth of anti-Muslim conspiracy theories and associated politics in the United States among other places--and arguably many of those people are willing to translate their beliefs into actions. The massacres of Breivik are exceptional, and I hope will remain so. The gradual radical hardening of attitudes towards Muslims, perhaps on the lines described by Peters, is more likely. I'd prefer not to have an actual clash of civilizations.
It's urgent for the future that not only is Eurabia demonstrated to be false and dangerous, but that its believers be convinced that it's false and dangerous. How is this to be done? If people ignore evidence that this theory--any theory, really--is incorrect, how can their minds be changed?
Thoughts?
But any number of people believe in Eurabia regardless. Arguably a growing number of people believe in the impending Eurabianizaton of their homelands--even outside Europe, as evidenced by the growth of anti-Muslim conspiracy theories and associated politics in the United States among other places--and arguably many of those people are willing to translate their beliefs into actions. The massacres of Breivik are exceptional, and I hope will remain so. The gradual radical hardening of attitudes towards Muslims, perhaps on the lines described by Peters, is more likely. I'd prefer not to have an actual clash of civilizations.
It's urgent for the future that not only is Eurabia demonstrated to be false and dangerous, but that its believers be convinced that it's false and dangerous. How is this to be done? If people ignore evidence that this theory--any theory, really--is incorrect, how can their minds be changed?
Thoughts?
