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Muslim Community Organisations and Leadership in Australia

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Muslim Community Organisations and Leadership in Australia Muslim Community Organisations and Leadership in Australia Submitted by Ryan Edwards ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5112-9363 A thesis in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2018 Asia Institute Faculty of Arts University of Melbourne i Abstract Contemporary Islamophobia, strengthened by its intersectionality with overlapping phenomena, such as racism and protectionist attitudes towards migration, has impacted and affected Australian Muslim communities in a variety of ways. Muslim community organisations (MCOs), often serving as the link between Muslim communities and government, media and wider society, are consistently required to navigate the challenges that arise amidst the socio-political context in which they operate. By exploring the socio-political context and developing an enhanced understanding of the overall structure of MCOs in Australia, this thesis identifies and examines the key contemporary challenges facing Australian MCOs. Through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with twenty-four representatives of MCOs from across the five Australian cities with the largest self-identifying Muslim populations (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide), this research provides a new and valuable insight into issues that are both contemporarily important and significant for Australia’s future. After separating MCOs into three categories (peak bodies, collective religious leadership and community groups), this thesis identifies several key themes that emerged from the interviews representing internal challenges to MCOs. These included: the generation gap, employment of imams, diversity of Muslims in Australia, and staff, funding and governance. It then explores Islamophobia as an external challenge, addressing how it affects MCOs and some of the ways in which they have responded. Finally, building on the discussion in previous chapters, it discusses how the nature of MCOs’ relationships are shaped by these internal and external challenges. This qualitative research provides a comprehensive, yet accessible introduction to Australian MCOs and assists researchers and organisations intending or committed to working with Australian MCOs to better understand their natures and realities. ii Candidate Declaration I, Ryan Edwards, declare that this thesis comprises only my original work towards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other materials used. This thesis is fewer than the maximum word limit in length exclusive of tables, the bibliography and appendices. Ryan Edwards August 2018 iii Acknowledgements First and foremost, my sincere gratitude to my two supervisors Dr Muhammad Kamal and Dr Christina Mayer. Thank you for your guidance, support and encouragement over the duration of my candidature. Likewise, to my parents, siblings, and the many friends – fellow PhD candidates, colleagues and former teachers – my endless thanks for the role you have played in supporting and shaping this journey. I am also appreciative of Australian Commonwealth Government support through an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. Finally, and perhaps most-importantly, to the twenty-four representatives of Muslim community organisations across Australia, thank you for taking the time to talk to me and share your experiences and insights. I am eternally grateful for the moments we spent together – in cafés, mosques, offices and homes – and look forward to crossing paths again. iv Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................... i Candidate Declaration .............................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................. viii Acronyms ........................................................................................................................ ix Introduction1 .................................................................................................................... 1 0.1 Research Problem ............................................................................................................... 3 0.2 Objectives & Research Questions ........................................................................................ 4 0.3 Scope and Significance of the Research ............................................................................... 6 0.4 Methodology and Theoretical Framework ........................................................................... 7 0.4.1 Semi-Structured in-Depth Interviews: .................................................................................................. 9 0.4.2 Content/Textual Analysis: ................................................................................................................... 15 0.4.3 Community Observation ..................................................................................................................... 16 0.5 Limitations ....................................................................................................................... 18 0.6 Thesis Outline ................................................................................................................... 19 1 Australian Muslims in Socio-Political Context ........................................................... 23 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 23 1.2 The White Australia Policy ........................................................................................... 26 1.2.1 Muslims during the White Australia Policy ..................................................................................... 30 1.2.2 Between the World Wars ............................................................................................................... 32 1.2.3 Impact of the Second World War on Government Policy............................................................... 33 1.2.4 The End of the White Australia Policy ............................................................................................ 35 1.3 Multicultural Australia ................................................................................................ 36 1.3.1 The 2016 Census ............................................................................................................................. 39 1.3.2 Muslims and “Multicultural” Australia ........................................................................................... 45 1.3.3 The “Us and Them” Dynamic .......................................................................................................... 49 1.3.4 Social Exclusion and Disadvantage ................................................................................................. 54 1.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 57 1 Please note, there is no literature review section. Literature relevant to the various subjects, concepts and frameworks referenced in this thesis have been approached on a “when-and-as-needed” basis. This serves as the most approachable means of relating this thesis to existing literature (see p. 7). v 2 Muslim Community Organisations in Australia ......................................................... 59 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 59 2.2 Peak Bodies ................................................................................................................ 62 2.2.1 Case Study: The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) .................................................. 64 2.2.1.1 AFIC in Theory & Practice ....................................................................................................... 67 2.2.1.2 Schools’ Crisis ......................................................................................................................... 74 2.2.1.3 Leadership and Power Battles................................................................................................ 77 2.2.1.4 AFIC & Muslim Communities ................................................................................................. 79 2.2.1.5 The Future of AFIC ................................................................................................................. 82 2.2.1.6 AFIC in 2018: Re-establishing community trust? ................................................................... 87 2.2.2 Case Study: The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) ............................................................................ 90 2.2.2.1 Organisational Structure ........................................................................................................ 91 2.2.2.2 Representativeness and Diversity .......................................................................................... 92 2.2.2.3 ICV Services ...........................................................................................................................
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