This book, authored by political sociologist Joshua Roose, examines why young Muslim men from similar social, cultural, and familial backgrounds in Australia adopt sharply divergent political and religious trajectories in the name of Islam. Through in‑depth case studies—including the Muslim hip‑hop group The Brothahood, public intellectual Waleed Aly, the “Benbrika Jama’ah,” and young men who left Australia to join foreign conflicts, including on behalf of Da’esh (IS/ISIL/ISIS)—the study explores how differing social environments, influences, and forms of capital shape distinct expressions of masculinity and political engagement. The book argues that social trajectory, recognition, and hope in shaping constructive or harmful pathways play a central role in shaping these young men’s trajectories. Upward trajectories—supported by Tasawuuf and traditional Islamic teachings, education, professional employment, positive intercultural interactions, and stable community belonging—foster constructive political engagement, masculine pride rooted in responsibility, and a sense of purpose. Downward trajectories—marked by limited education, unemployment, criminal activity, welfare dependence, and negative interactions with state institutions—can fuel “protest masculinities” characterized by hyper‑masculinity, vulnerability, and attraction to confrontational or violent identities. Overall, the book argues that Western multicultural states must meaningfully engage with Muslim communities—particularly marginalized young men facing downward social mobility—to restore recognition, hope, and inclusion. It challenges reductive portrayals of Islamic masculinity, emphasizing instead the importance of social context, identity formation, and the search for dignity in shaping political pathways.
2016