Religion as a Political Resource: Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa in Berlin and Paris (Veröffentlichungen der Sektion Religionssoziologie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie)

Miriam Schader shows that migrants can use religion as a resource for political involvement in their (new) country of residence – but under certain circumstances only. The author analyses the role religious networks and symbols play for the politicization and participation of Muslim and Christian migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in Berlin and Paris. Against the widely held belief that Islam is a ’political religion’ in itself, this study demonstrates that Christian migrants draw on their religion for political action more easily than their Muslim counterparts. It also highlights that it is not religion in general which helps migrants get politically active, but particular forms of religious organisations and particular theological elements. Miriam Schader shows that migrants can use religion as a resource for political involvement in their (new) country of residence - but under certain circumstances only. The author analyses the role religious networks and symbols play for the politicization and participation of Muslim and Christian migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in Berlin and Paris. Against the widely held belief that Islam is a 'political religion' in itself, this study demonstrates that Christian migrants draw on their religion for political action more easily than their Muslim counterparts. It also highlights that it is not religion in general which helps migrants get politically active, but particular forms of religious organisations and particular theological elements. Contents Three Approaches to the Political Involvement of Migrants Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa in Berlin and Paris Religion as an Organisational Resource: Religious Self-Organisation of Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa in Berlin and Paris "Jesus was a Revolutionary": Religion as Structural and Symbolic Political Resource Target Groups Researchers and students in the fields of sociology, political science, migration studies, and urban planning (Migrant) activists, urban planners, social workers, religious leaders, local administrators and politicians The Author Miriam Schader is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity Front Matter....Pages I-XV Introduction....Pages 17-26 Three approaches to the political involvement of migrants – a short overview over the state of research and some theoretical considerations....Pages 27-58 Methodology....Pages 59-79 Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in Berlin and Paris....Pages 81-132 Religion as an organisational resource: Religious self-organisation of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in Berlin and Paris....Pages 133-172 “Jesus was a revolutionary”: Religion as structural and symbolic political resource....Pages 173-216 Conclusion....Pages 217-229 Back Matter....Pages 231-263