Demographic Premises of Islamophobia in Western Europe. Critical Analysis

Abstract

The European Union, in particular the richest countries, are experiencing a large influx of immigrants from developing countries. This raises concerns about taking jobs or draining the social security system. The biggest fear, of undermining European identity, comes from immigrants from Muslim countries. The main ground of these fears are demographic factors. This article attempts to answer the question of how many immigrants to Europe can be expected from Muslim countries? Can we talk about the ‘flood’ of Islam to Europe? Is it true to say that Muslims have so many children compared to non-Muslims that they are a demographic threat first, and next a political threat to Europe?

The article consists of three parts: the first shows the development of Islam in the last century compared to other world religions. The second part concentrates on the religious diversity of the world’s population in the coming decades. The third part, entitled: Immigrants from Muslim countries in the EU, analyzes the influx of Muslims into Europe, fertility rates of Muslims in Europe compared with non-Muslims’ fertility and the age structure of the Muslim population in the EU.