BETWEEN THE CRESCENT AND THE STAR-SPANGLED-BANNER - AMERICAN MUSLIMS AND US-FOREIGN-POLICY

The authors notes that while Muslims are as numerous as Jews in the Un ited States, they wield only a fraction of the influence on politics, specifically on foreign policy. Identifying four aspects of the Americ an Muslim identity-national origin, racial affiliation, religious affi liation and American affiliation-he examines how these affect the view s of American Muslims towards US foreign policy. He notes the conflict ing attractions of the two main US political parties for American Musl ims and the role played by the Nation of Islam under Louis Farrakhan. He concludes with an analysis of the differences between 'indigenous' and 'immigrant' Muslin Americans.