View article

The collapse of the Berlin Wall has forced Western Europe to rethink its identity. In the past its concep? tion of itself as a haven of democracy and civilization depended in part on a contrast to the evils of the Com? munist bloc. Today there is a revived notion of Europe as" Christendom," in contradistinction to" Islam." This time, unlike the period preceding Columbus' project, the Islam in question is not being held back at the frontier (Spain, the Balkans). Today new" minority" populations of Mus? lim background have penetrated Europe's very core. Euro? peans' anxiety about their identity, and their sense of cul? tural and economic siege by Muslim immigrants within has emerged as one of the most contentious issues on the continent. 1

Juan Goytisolo savagely lampoons this hysteria about" foreigners" in his hilariously provocative novel, Land? scapes After the Battle. The book opens with the inexpli? cable appearance …