Governing religious diversity in urban contexts: the interplay of religious and state representatives in local interfaith networks

Dick, Eva / Alexander-Kenneth Nagel
Externe Publikationen (2015)

in: Victoria Hegner / Peter-Jan Magry (eds.), Spiritualizing the city, London, New York: Routledge, 1-17

During the last decade, the concept of integration has become a leading policy objective in Germany and risen to high profile at municipal and city agendas. Within the recent inter-cultural paradigm the governance of religious diversity has become a topic in many urban integration plans. Religious and (inter-) religious actors are considered privileged allies in this context, also against the background of new forms of governance. This paper examines how religious actors and inter-religious activities are included in urban integration plans, and the rationales and types of public-private collaboration in interfaith activities. It is based on the analysis of integration concepts of two metropolitan cities in Germany’s Ruhr Area, Duisburg and Hamm, and on qualitative field work in both cities. The paper concludes that new networks between public and religious actors have effectively been established also leading to higher degrees of recognition of religious or spiritual topics and concerns. In terms of integration-related prospects, state involvement in interreligious faith networks does however not necessarily lead to adequate accommodation of religious diversity, but is likely to reinforce existing tendencies and mechanisms of exclusion.

Über die Autorin

Dick, Eva

Soziologin und Raumplanerin

Dick

Weitere Expert*innen zu diesem Thema

Breuer, Anita

Politikwissenschaftlerin 

El-Haddad, Amirah

Ökonomie 

Fasold, Maximilian

Politische Ökonomie 

Haldenwang, Christian von

Politikwissenschaftler 

Herrfahrdt-Pähle, Elke

Volkswirtin 

Houdret, Annabelle

Politikwissenschaftlerin 

Leininger, Julia

Politikwissenschaftlerin 

Morare, Ditebogo Modiegi

Politikwissenschaften 

Roll, Michael

Soziologie 

Schoderer, Mirja

Umweltwissenschaft 

Wehrmann, Dorothea

Soziologie