Europe: Insights from the Outside

The volume was developed on the basis of a concept that goes beyond a thematically closed panorama of Europe’s socio-cultural make-up, particularly in relation to multicultural and transcultural phenomena. Foreign-born and non-European authors were asked to describe their specific perspectives and experiences as “outsiders”, providing new perceptions to persons enculturated in Europe. They give voice to the expectations that a globalised world addresses to Europe, whereby European self-myths are often called into question and corrected. Having decided to immigrate to a European country for different reasons – be they private or political – biographical circumstances permit some of the authors to take up positions offering unusual insights. In the unfamiliar light of this European perspective linked to a non-European point of reference, developments and decisions in the EU about its direction in the coming years, take on a different appearance and open themselves to a more discerning scrutiny.
Including contributions by Susan Neiman, Badr Mohammed, Ralph Ghadban, Anil Bhatti, Hans Lenk, J. Peter Burgess, Nasr H. Abu Zaid, Tahir Abbas, Necla Kelek, Serap Çileli, Bashy Quraishy, Shigeko Kubota, Sheela Patel, Minxin Pei, Mario Gomez, Mona Abousenna, Mourad Wahba, and Michael March.