Left to their own devices? On the role of Polish migrant organisations in Norway

Paulina Pustułka , Eugene Guribye , Magdalena Ślusarczyk , Barbara Zyzak

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of Polish organisations in the social lives of Polish families in Norway by employing a critical perspective that acknowledges the importance of state involvement in relation to social capital. Discrepancies between Norway and Poland in relation to trust and civic participation as central facets of social capital are analysed in relation to state policies. Furthermore, based on the stories of Polish migrants in Norway interviewed for WP2 and WP3 studies of the Transfam project, we investigate the roles of Polish migrant organisations and religious institutions in relation to the social integration of Poles in Norway. The study suggests that low levels of trust and civic participation among Poles has not seemed to change in the context of settling in Norway, a country with high trust and civic participation. We argue that the lack of a comprehensive integration strategy for labour migrants in Norway, combined with a relatively short settlement time, contributes to limit the potential of these organisations in relation to the creating bridging and linking social capital and improve the social integration of Poles in the country