We Are Not Integrating Them, They Should Experience That We Are Involved in Something Together” Reciprocal Integration
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“We are not Integrating them, they Should Experience that we are Involved in Something Together” Reciprocal Integration Hannah Chazal Lennox VID Specialized University Stavanger Master`s Thesis Master in Global Studies Word count: 29970 09.05.2019 [Type here] Abstract Integration may be seen as a reciprocal process where both the host population and the refugees and asylum seekers must go through a process of adaptation. This thesis studies the impact that the migration of refugees and asylum seekers has had on the host population in a municipality in Rogaland, Norway. It looks at how the experiences of the host population affect the process of integration and how this knowledge can help to achieve the better integration of refugees and asylum seekers to this municipality in Rogaland. The thesis is based upon sixteen qualitative interviews conducted with members of the host population. The role of religion in connecting the host population with the refugees and asylum seekers and the reciprocal possibilities of volunteer organizations and the relationships formed through these organizations are themes that are discussed in depth through the course of the thesis. Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Gerd Marie Ådna, for her wonderful guidance and continued support throughout the process of researching and writing this thesis. I would also like to thank all of my informants for opening up to me and taking the time out of their lives to partake in my research. I have gained a great respect for all of my informants and without their help, I would not have been able to write this thesis. I would also like to thank everyone else who has helped me in the process of researching and writing this thesis. Lastly, I would like to thank my friends and family for all their practical and emotional support throughout this process. Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE BACKGROUND ........................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 THESIS TOPIC .................................................................................................................................... 1 THESIS STATEMENT .......................................................................................................................... 2 MOTIVATION FOR THE SELECTION OF THE TOPIC .................................................................... 2 WHY IS THIS TOPIC RELEVANT AND WHO IS IT RELEVANT FOR? .............................................. 3 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................... 3 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................... 4 RELIGION ....................................................................................................................................... 4 CULTURE ....................................................................................................................................... 4 INTEGRATION ............................................................................................................................... 4 RECIPROCAL INTEGRATION .................................................................................................... 4-5 ASSIMILATION ............................................................................................................................... 5 REFUGEE ....................................................................................................................................... 5 ASYLUM SEEKER .......................................................................................................................... 5 MIGRANT........................................................................................................................................ 6 A MUNICIPALITY IN ROGALAND ................................................................................................ 6 THE HOST POPULATION ............................................................................................................. 7 A HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION TO NORWAY ................................................................................ 7-8 THE INFORMANTS ........................................................................................................................... 8 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................. 9-11 RELIGIOUS IDENTITY ............................................................................................................... 11-12 EDUCATION / WORK .................................................................................................................. 12-13 ATTITUDES AND VIEWS ............................................................................................................ 13-14 CHAPTER TWO METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................... 15 METHODS USED TO GATHER INFORMATION ............................................................................ 15 THE INTERVIEWS ....................................................................................................................... 15-16 ACCESS / THE GATEKEEPER ......................................................................................................... 17 DECIDING WHO TO INTERVIEW .............................................................................................. 17-18 PERSONAL SITUATION IN THE FIELD ..................................................................................... 18-19 METHODOLOGICAL CHALLENGES ............................................................................................. 19 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ......................................................................................................... 20 ETHICAL CHALLENGES ................................................................................................................. 20 GROUNDED THEORY ................................................................................................................ 21-22 CHAPTER THREE THEORY AND DISCUSSION ................................................................ 23 ROBERT PUTNAM’S THEORY OF SOCIAL CAPITAL............................................................... 23-24 VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS AS AN ARENA FOR INTEGRATION ..................................... 24-25 THE CONNECTION BETWEEN RELIGION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ..................................... 25 RELIGION AS A MOTIVATION FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT .................................................... 26-27 RELIGION AS A POINT OF CONNECTION ............................................................................... 28-29 INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE .................................................................................................. 30-31 STEREOTYPES AND THE ‘OTHER’ ........................................................................................... 32-33 CULTURALISM ................................................................................................................................ 33 HERMENEUTICS ........................................................................................................................ 33-35 POWER RELATIONS ................................................................................................................... 35-36 CHAPTER FOUR FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS .................................................................... 37 RELIGION ......................................................................................................................................... 37 RELIGION AS A POINT OF CONNECTION ............................................................................... 37-42 CONSERVATIVE VALUES AS A POINT OF CONNECTION BETWEEN RELIGIONS ............... 42-43 THE ROLE OF MISSIONARIES IN IGNITING INTEREST IN OTHER CULTURES .................. 43-45 RELIGION AS A MOTIVATION ................................................................................................... 45-47 CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY ............................................................................................. 47-50 RELIGION AS A ‘BRIDGE’ IN SOCIAL CAPITAL ...................................................................... 50-51 RECIPROCITY .................................................................................................................................. 51 THE RECIPROCAL NATURE OF VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS.......................................... 51-55 VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS AS A MEANS TO INCREASE SOCIAL CAPITAL ................... 55-57 THE BUILDING OF TRUST ........................................................................................................ 57-58 FAMILY TYPE RELATIONSHIPS ................................................................................................. 58-60 FEELINGS OF WORTH AND HAVING SOMETHING TO OFFER ................................................. 60 NORWEGIAN SOCIETY .............................................................................................................. 60-61 NORWAY AS AN ORGANIZED SOCIETY 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