The relation between religiosity and Muslims’ social integration: a two-wave study of recent immigrants in three European countries

Abstract

ABSTRACTDoes their degree of religiosity affect how successfully recent Muslim migrants integrate socially into the host society in terms of their social contacts with the majority population and their ethno-religious group? And/or do these co-ethnic and interethnic social contacts affect the religiosity of Muslim migrants over time? On the basis of a two-wave study among recent migrants in Germany, the Netherlands and the U.K., the relationship between religious practices and social contact is studied. Findings indicate that Muslims who were more religious before migration develop more co-ethnic contacts shortly after moving to Europe, which in turn strengthens their religious practice over time. In contrast to popular discourse, more religious Muslims do not develop fewer social contacts with the majority over time. Thus, social integration into the host society is largely decoupled from religiosity, highlighting the importance of differentiating between co-ethnic and majority contacts when studying religiosity and social integration.