The "unknown" associations of civil society: immigrant communities and associations in Greece


Απόστολος Γ. Παπαδόπουλος
Λουκία-Μαρία Φρατσέα
Abstract

The study of civil society in Greece has focused on the role and actions of NGOs, while immigrant associations and communities remain largely unknown to the wider public. The significance of immigrant associations has been considered pivotal for immigrant integration and participation in the Greek society, and their contribution is also important for the institutional intermediation of immigrant nationalities. This paper contains an analysis of the basic characteristics and an appraisal of immigrant associations' role in Greek civil society, on the basis of solid empirical data collected in the period 2009-2010. Moreover, it includes recent qualitative data recorded in summer 2013. A basic conclusion is that immigrant associations are allocated a weak position in Greek civil society compared to the NGOs activated on immigrant issues. In this context, the empowerment of immigrant associations has become a significant precondition for the widening of civil society's role to undertake immigrants' integration in Greek society.

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