Religious Organisations as Political Actors in the Context of Migration: Islam and Orthodoxy in Austria

Abstract

This paper investigates how immigration and concerns over integration are changing established modes of cooperation between church and state in Austria. Focusing on the relationship between officially recognised Muslim and Eastern Orthodox organisations and the state, we examine how the mounting politicisation of immigrant integration has led the state to collaborate with minority religious organisations as representatives of immigrants and is increasing the opportunities for such religious groups to be visible and express voice in the public sphere. Based on interviews, policy documents and literature, we analyse how the modes of cooperation between religious organisations and the state are moving from a narrow and institutionalised collaboration on policy issues exclusively related to religion to a broader but more fluid and uncertain form of symbolic cooperation. We argue that, within this modified setting, recognised minority religious organisations are gradually assuming the function of political entrepreneurs who speak for the entire immigrant community. This, in turn, creates tensions within and between religious groups, and risks overstating religion as a factor in the integration of immigrants. Our comparison between Muslim and Eastern Orthodox religious organisations shows that, notwithstanding the greater salience of Islam, they both benefit from the new role of religion in integration issues.

Islam and Muslims in Austria

“…It organized a religious summit with religious leaders at the chancellor's office, and it held an informal meeting with Danish representatives and Muslim leaders from Bosnia, Syria and Austria. On both occasions the government emphasized that the long-established Austrian model of dialogue and religious toleration could show a way out of the crisis (Mourão Permoser et al 2010). …”

Between faith, expertise and advocacy: the role of religion in European Union policy-making on immigration

“…At the national and local levels, there is a tendency for religious representatives to act as representatives of immigrants, as authorities seek dialogue partners to ease tensions and discuss policy alternatives (Mourão Permoser et al 2010;Tezcan 2007;Torrekens 2011). By contrast, at the European level representation does not play a big role in legitimizing the participation of FBOs in migration policy-making.…”

“…Literature acknowledges the decline of religion as an electoral cleavage in national and European politics (Minkenberg 2010;Nelsen et al 2011), but highlights its resistance and even its resurgence as a factor likely to be politicized in countries with a strong religious diversity and a significant Muslim minority (van der Brug et al 2009) and on controversial normative topics. At the same time, the mounting politicization of immigration and immigrant integration has led national governments to collaborate with minority religious organizations as representatives of immigrants and is increasing the opportunities for such religious groups to be visible and express voice in the political sphere (Mourão Permoser et al 2010).…”

National conceptions, transnational solidarities: Turkey, Islam and Europe

“…The phrase 'having a seat at the table of the Republic' (www.lecfcm.fr -now defunct webpage, archived here: https://goo.gl/yJqX6f) captures this search for respect and recognition in the French case. Some religious organizations behave as political actors, as in the case of the IGGiÖ in Austria, where a restrictive immigration policy with rigorous standards for the acquisition of citizenship and limits on the right to vote, or on non-citizens standing for elected political office, have constrained other forms of political participation (Permoser et al 2008).…”