ABSTRACT This paper adds to the existing insights into the occurrence, explanations for and experience of Islamophobia in Australia by focusing on contact with the ‘other’ in suburbs with high concentrations of Muslims. The study was conducted in two diverse and socio-economically disadvantaged localities with high Muslim concentrations in metropolitan Melbourne. A mixed method approach was used: a quantitative analysis of 2016–2017 survey data in two suburbs (N = 301), Broadmeadows and Fawkner in Melbourne’s north, followed by local experiences of Islamophobia, drawing from 36 semi-structured follow-up interviews with local residents, while keeping in mind specific local circumstances. It was found that positive contact with diverse neighbours makes people less Islamophobic, but negative experiences makes them more Islamophobic. These findings provide evidence for the ‘contact theory’ as well as the ‘threat theory’ in explaining local variations in the levels of Islamophobia.

中文翻译：

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谁是伊斯兰恐惧症，为什么？墨尔本北部两个穆斯林集中度高的郊区对伊斯兰恐惧症的解释

摘要 本文通过关注穆斯林高度集中的郊区与“他者”的接触，增加了对澳大利亚伊斯兰恐惧症的发生、解释和经历的现有见解。该研究是在墨尔本大都市穆斯林集中度较高的两个不同的、社会经济上处于不利地位的地区进行的。使用了混合方法：对墨尔本北部的 Broadmeadows 和 Fawkner 两个郊区（N = 301）的 2016-2017 年调查数据进行定量分析，然后是当地的伊斯兰恐惧症经验，从 36 次半结构化的后续访谈中提取当地居民，同时牢记当地的具体情况。研究发现，与不同邻居的积极接触可以减少人们的伊斯兰恐惧症，但消极的经历会使他们更加恐惧伊斯兰。