Britain & Islam An eye opening history of Britain and the Islamic world a thousand year relationship that is closer deeper and more mutually beneficial than is often recognized. In this broad yet sympathetic survey ranging from the Crusades to the modern day Martin Pugh explores the social political and cultural encounters between Britain and Islam. He looks for instance at how reactions against the Crusades led to Anglo Muslim collaboration under the Tudors at how Britain posed as defender of Islam in the Victorian period and at her role in rearranging the Muslim world after 1918. Pugh argues that contrary to current assumptions Islamic groups have often embraced Western ideas including modernization and liberal democracy. He shows how the difficulties and Islamophobia that Muslims have experienced in Britain since the 1970s are largely caused by an acute crisis in British national identity. In truth Muslims have become increasingly key participants in mainstream British society in culture sport politics and the economy.