Prepared by: Kais Al‐Momani Nour Dados Marion Maddox Amanda Wise C

CHAPTER 1: AIMS, RESEARCH QUESTIONS & METHODOLOGY

AIMS

To identify:

2. The locations in which Australian Muslims are politically active;

3. Enabling factors and obstacles to greater political participation by Australian Muslims;

4. Characteristics of successful Australian Muslim political leaders;

5. Programs (both successful and unsuccessful) that address these issues; and

6. Recommendations for future interventions to enhance political participation by Australian

Muslims.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS & OBJECTIVES

Through the literature review and field research, the project identified both successful and unsuccessful initiatives, enabling new strategies to build on past achievements and avoid foreseeable mistakes. Specifically, the project had the following objectives:

ƒ Examine factors which have contributed to successful participation of Australian Muslims and

Muslims in other Western countries.

ƒ Identify barriers to Muslim political participation in Australia.

ƒ Document international and local best practice initiatives to support and accelerate direct and

indirect political participation by Muslims.

ƒ Conduct an audit of successful Australian and overseas interventions, both government and non‐

government, which support and accelerate Muslims’ political engagement and participation. Identify common or distinctive themes and approaches.

ƒ Conduct in‐depth case studies of selected successful initiatives, including analysing their strengths and

weaknesses.

ƒ Analyse ways in which such initiatives could be strengthened, developed or, in the case of

international examples, adapted for Australian circumstances.

ƒ Document suggestions from interviewees of strategies that have yet to be tried.

ƒ Propose additional strategies to enhance Muslim political participation.

ƒ Identify ways in which international best practice models could be implemented in Australia –

including by local, state and national government levels, NGOs and other organisations.

ƒ Develop a three‐tiered best‐practice model for local, state and national level interventions.
The model will:
a. Be evidence‐based.

b. Be informed by overseas and local best practice.

c. Be informed also by overseas and local unsuccessful interventions, so as to avoid repeating their mistakes.

d. Include measurable/testable outcomes so its success can be monitored.

e. Include strategies for further refinement and development in the light of experience following its

implementation.