Behind the Scenes. Vietnamese Immigrants of Buddhist Faith Doing Communitas in Switzerland

Abstract

The following paper presents empirical findings on the community-building processes (Vergemeinschaftung) undertaken by Vietnamese immigrants of Buddhist faith in Switzerland and in the broader European context after their arrival in Europe post-1970. The theoretical aim of the paper is to analyse how these immigrants restructure their ethno-religious communities in Switzerland. For analysis, the concept of “institutional isomorphism” is applied as a heuristic template to the empirical
data. It illustrates which models and forms of organisation relevant actors use and which misunderstandings and conflicts are generated.

[Vietnamese Buddhism, Switzerland, organisations, isomorphism, forced migration, refugees, collectivisation (Vergemeinschaftung), immigrant community]