Islamophobia and Its Triggers: Muslims as a Threat

Surveys show that Islamophobia is on the rise across Europe. Different studies have tried to understand the reasons behind this growth, pointing at the increasing Muslim presence and the fear that Muslims take over the country, together with political players’ interest in constructing the “Muslim problem” or the “Islamic threat,” particularly since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This study analyzes some of the commonly referenced explanations for the rise in Islamophobia through survey data collected in Spain. Political and media debates over the integration of Muslims into Western societies appear to contribute most significantly to the rise of Islamophobia; just as the rejection of multiculturalism and cultural intransigence seem to be what most clearly explain the refusal to let Muslims practice their religion. Their predictive effects also exceed what is shown by common sociodemographic variables in the explanation of anti-Muslim attitudes (age, gender, level of education, religious practice, and political ideology).