Shiite “Communities of Practice” in Germany

Abstract

Although few in number, the various Shiite Muslim communities in Germany are highly diversified in terms of their linguistic, national and ethnic backgrounds and ritual practice. In order to come to terms with these multi-local actors and their specific articulations of Shiism, the article aimes at an analytical framework that integrates an open understanding of belonging: employing Leave and Wenger’s concept of “communities of practice”, it argues that a focus on common practice in which heterogeneous actors engage, enables us to grasp, on the one hand, the varying specific characteristics of different groups and, on the other, their mutual belonging to the wider Shiite field.

Making Islam Work

“…In contrast, the youth groups are more "communities of practice" (Langer and Weineck 2017). The members of these groups are from mixed backgrounds, mostly young Iraqis and Afghans, although sometimes there are people from other backgrounds, as well as Dutch converts.…”