Following Spain's democratic transition during the late 1970s, political and business elites strategically exploited Spain's rich Islamic heritage in order to further projects of national redefinition, tourist promotion, and urban revitalization. Toward the onset of the 21st century, however, tensions surrounding Islam's growing presence in Spain became increasingly common. These tensions centered largely around the presence, or proposed establishment, of mosques in Barcelona and its greater metropolitan area. 

This book examines how Islam went from being an aspect of Spain's national heritage to a pressing social problem to be managed and controlled. The core of Rebuilding Islam in Contemporary Spain centers on the shifting political and social dynamics surrounding the establishment of mosques, and the question of why anti-mosque mobilizations have been more prevalent and intense in Catalonia than other Spanish regions. Revised Dissertation.