Mediation and religious diversity

Over the past few decades, Catalonia has undergone a process of ethnic and religious diversification as a result of increased international immigration. In this context, the integration of minorities and the accommodation of their religious and cultural needs has become a priority for political authorities and civil society. A key strategy in this integration process has been working with “cultural mediators,” or individuals with the cultural and social skills necessary to bridge the gap between their respective religious communities and social and political institutions.

By assuming the role of intermediaries, these individuals often become leaders and/or representatives of the community, despite doing so through unconventional paths that do not necessarily involve formal religious training. This project examines the personal backgrounds, trajectories, and motivations of those who act as cultural intermediaries within the Filipino, Islamic, and Sikh communities in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The research explains the types of social and cultural capital that enable specific individuals to become cultural intermediaries in the religious sphere. Similarly, it demonstrates that acting as mediators allows these individuals to accumulate other forms of capital.

Furthermore, the project shows that intermediation is a substantive and functional activity that can be subdivided into five main areas:

1) administration / organization;

2) conflict resolution;

3) representation;

4) socialization / integration;

5) transnationalism.

However, although these areas can be analytically distinguished, in practice they tend to overlap. Finally, this project identifies several challenges related to mediation faced by both religious communities and public institutions, and highlights issues of legitimacy and trust, which are essential for mediation to function effectively in the religious sphere.

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Publications

Muntanyola-Saura D., Fernández M., (2019) «The place of religious mediation: a mixed methods approach» . Spanish Journal of Sociological Research (REIS), 165:101-120.

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Project Details

The project "Mediation, leadership and representation in a context of religious diversity" was funded by the Generalitat of Catalonia through the line of aid for research on religious diversity.

Avi Astor was the lead researcher on the project, which also included the participation of researchers Mar Griera, Anna Clot, Wilson Muñoz, Miquel Fernandez, Dafne Muntanyola and José Luis Molina.