Engagement in Civil Society and Different Forms of Social Trust in the Aftermath of the European Refugee Crisis

This study examines the extent to which engagement within civil society relates to various forms of social trust among residents in local communities that received varying shares of asylum seekers during the European refugee crisis of 2015 to 2017. The study is based on a representative survey collected from individuals within 36 local Swedish communities that received very different shares of asylum seekers. The result suggests that engagement in civil society organizations moderates community trust under conditions of increased diversity. Outgroup trust varies with the share of asylum seekers only among those not involved in civil society. The results also suggest that involvement in civil society does not moderate generalized trust if the share of asylum seeker varies.

Automated summary

This study investigates the relationship between engagement in civil society activities and various forms of social trust in local communities that received different proportions of asylum seekers during the European migrant crisis. The results indicate that involvement in civil society organizations moderates community trust in the context of increased diversity. Trust towards outgroup members varies with the proportion of asylum seekers, but only among those who are not engaged in civil society. Additionally, the study finds that engagement in civil society does not moderate generalized trust, regardless of changes in the proportion of asylum seekers.