Abstract

The presence of muslims in Italy, their complex and diversified identities and organizations, the battle for the control of the islamic religious camp, is the focus of this essay. A special attention is paid to understand: the ethnic difference between the muslim population; the variety of religious practices and social interactions related to islamic affiliation; the internal differentiation within muslim groups; the modes of productions and transmission of islamic tradition and knowledge in a minority context; the organizations, mobilizations and models of leadership emerging among muslims; the different typologies of the most influential intellectual and religious leaders forms of leadership; the interaction of the muslims with the italian society; the links of muslim groups in Italy with a muslim international network. Least, the problem of representation and the dilemma of the recognition of muslims as a religious community in a State agreement.