Social Integration: An Assessment into the Role of Cultural Identity in Friendship Formation
Author
Jensen, Tanja
Term
4. term
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-05-13
Abstract
This thesis examines how cultural identity shapes the formation of friendships as a pathway to socio-cultural integration in Denmark following the 2015 refugee crisis. Framed against the political discourse on “parallel societies,” the study explores interethnic friendships between Danes and Arabs as an alternative to primarily punitive integration measures. Using survey and interview data, it applies three theoretical lenses—Anxiety/Uncertainty Management (AUM), trust theory (calculation-, knowledge-, and identification-based trust), and Identity Management Theory (IMT). The empirical scope includes Danish and Arabic respondents aged 20–34 and addresses three levels: (1) how friendships are structured and conceived (macro), (2) how they develop (meso), and (3) what motivates or discourages contact with outgroup strangers (micro). Findings suggest that social segregation persists largely due to differences in social norms and friendship practices rather than a lack of motivation among refugees, and that Danish cultural identity can reduce motivation to engage with Arab refugees. The thesis recommends complementing integration policy with social activities beyond the productive sphere, such as community sports and clubs, and calls for further inquiry into how cultural identities shape motivation for intergroup communication. The study is limited to a narrow age range and two cultural groups and does not claim generalizability beyond its material.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan kulturel identitet påvirker venskabsdannelse som en vej til socio-kulturel integration i Danmark efter flygtningekrisen i 2015. Med udgangspunkt i den politiske debat om “parallelsamfund” analyserer studiet venskaber mellem danskere og arabere som et muligt alternativ til primært sanktionerende integrationsinitiativer. Afhandlingen kombinerer spørgeskema- og interviewdata med tre teoretiske rammer: Angst-/usikkerhedshåndtering (AUM), tillidsteori (beregnings-, viden- og identifikationsbaseret tillid) og Identity Management Theory (IMT). Undersøgelsen omfatter danske og arabiske respondenter i alderen 20–34 år og behandler tre niveauer: (1) hvordan venskaber er struktureret og forstået (makro), (2) hvordan de udvikles (meso), og (3) hvad der motiverer eller hæmmer kontakt med fremmede fra andre grupper (mikro). Resultaterne peger på, at social segregering i høj grad vedligeholdes af forskelle i sociale normer og venskabspraksisser snarere end manglende motivation hos flygtninge, og at dansk kulturel identitet kan dæmpe motivationen for kontakt med arabiske flygtninge. Afhandlingen anbefaler at supplere integrationsindsatsen med sociale aktiviteter uden for den produktive sfære, fx forenings- og idrætstilbud, samt at undersøge nærmere, hvordan kulturelle identiteter former motivationen for interkulturel kommunikation. Studiet er afgrænset til et alderssnævert udsnit og to kulturelle grupper og gør ikke krav på generalisering ud over dette materiale.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]