Muslim and Christian Organizations in Germany as political actors in local refugee politics

This study aims to provide an overview of the experience and self-perceptions of selected Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant religious leaders as political actors in the context of local refugee aid and integration measures in Germany. We interviewed thirty religious leaders from local faith-based organizations (FBOs) through semi-structured expert interviews between November 2021 and January 2022. The data collected were transcribed and analyzed using MAXQDA. The empirical material provided information on three aspects regarding the political nature of FBOs in local refugee aid and integration measures: the self-perceived role as a political actor, contact with political actors, and the perception of FBOs’ influence on (local) political decision-making. With few exceptions, religious leaders ascribe a political role to their activities in refugee aid. However, the goals and strategies of this role vary markedly, revealing patterns across the three faith groups. We argue that these differences can be interpreted against the background of the historically evolved role of different faiths in Germany. By presenting these first-hand perspectives, we offer new insights into how FBOs engage in politics advocating for their positions in local refugee and integration policies.