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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Paradise Lost? The Collapse of Dutch Multiculturalism and the Birth of Islamophobic Post-Liberalism

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The aim of this chapter is to shed light on the integration debate in the Netherlands, and especially on the prominent role of Islam and cultural issues in this debate (Boomkens 2010: 307). Arguably more than in any other European country, anti-Islamic sentiment has produced political consequences, including the formation of three political parties on a principally anti-Islamic platform (Leefbar Nederland (Liveable Netherlands), List Pim Fortuyn and Partij voor de Vrijheid (Freedom Party)) since 2000 and the dismantling of key aspects of state-supported multiculturalism, including a cessation of ethnic monitoring of labour market participation, the withdrawal of national-level funding for minority group organisations and the introduction of an immigration process designed to discriminate against social conservatives (Meer and Modood 2009: 474; Butler 2008: 3). Political discourse has become highly polarised, with controversy focused on cultural issues and especially on Islam and Muslims (Boomkens 2010: 307), and sometimes taking a violent form (Cherribi 2010: 146). Given the Netherlands’ international reputation for tolerance and social progres-sivism (Cherribi (2010: 3), this turn of events is both troubling and puzzling. So why has it happened?