The Role of Immigrant churches in the Incorporation of their Participants to the Broader Norwegian Society

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the role of Christian immigrant churches in helping their participants to integrate in their new society. It does so by doing an empirical study on three different immigrant churches in Oslo, Norway, where it investigates their activities, programs, connections and associations, the sort of social capital they help provide and whether or not it can be said to facilitate incorporation into the larger society. To help do that, this thesis applies social capital theory and gives a broad presentation and analysis of the churches in question focusing on four factors namely: Activities and programs, connections and associations with other organization and the state, participants’ residential status, and organizational culture. In spite of limited mentioning of linking social capital by previous researches, this thesis is concerned whether linking social capital can be identified and whether or not it can be said to facilitate better incorporation.