@inbook{
author = "Saleem, Amjad and Djurić Milovanović, Aleksandra",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Since the 2015 "migrant crisis," European nations have grappled with the challenge of integrating migrants into host communities. The "Anxious Middle," individuals with concerns about migration's societal impact without strong opposition, complicates this issue (Katwala and Somerville, 2016). Conventional methods using data and persuasion fall short in addressing these genuine concerns.
Effective approaches emphasize community connections and trust (Moretti and Bozon, 2017). Encouraging positive interactions among refugees, migrants, and locals, fostering mutual learning, forms the basis for deeper relationships. Local community organizations, such as faith-based groups and interreligious bodies, play a vital role in bridging gaps, offering volunteer opportunities, and humanizing migrants (Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, 2011). Grounding these connections in interreligious and intercultural dialogue promotes empathy, understanding, and mutual respect (Abu-Nimer and Smith, 2016).
Yet, the role of religion and dialogue in social inclusion and migration remains underexplored, especially in comparative contexts. Few empirical studies have examined this unique perspective, particularly in transnational settings where religious networks collaborate along migration routes to aid refugees and migrants (Mavelli and Wilson, 2017).
This paper spotlights the contributions of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in European countries to build trust and social cohesion among refugees and migrants. It explores the grassroots experiences of religious actors in nations like Sweden, Serbia, and Italy within the Network for Dialogue, established by the International Dialogue Centre, KAICIID, in 2019. The argument asserts that while interreligious and intercultural dialogue are crucial, FBOs' core focus on fostering community trust and providing safe dialogue spaces plays a pivotal role in fostering harmonious coexistence.",
publisher = "London : Transnational Press",
journal = "Religion, Religious Groups and Migration",
booktitle = "The Role of IRD and outreach in building trust and strengthening social inclusion in Europe: the case of Network for Dialogue",
pages = "127-142",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_15075"
}