Civic Engagement and Trust among Immigrants in Iceland

In this article cultural encounters of immigrants with Icelandic society are empirically examined. This is done by measuring their civic engagement or social and political participation as well as the level of institutional trust. These measurements are grounded in classical scholarly literature on civic engagement (Almond & Verba, 1963, 1989), on the one hand, and trust and social capital on the other (Putnam, 1993). Based on several variables derived from survey data gathered among Icelandic immigrants in 2018 (N=2.211), we construct two indices: an index of institutional trust and an index of civic engagement (Participatory Index). These indices are then compared against different background variables, drawing out important characteristics that shed light on acculturation and the negotiation between the Icelandic and various immigrant cultures and values. Additionally, we use data from a survey conducted among natives in Iceland to compare some variables with data collected from immigrants. As part of the examination of the general cultural encounters of immigrants in Iceland, their place of residence is an important variable. Through this data it is possible to make inferences about differences and similarities between immigrants living in urban and rural areas of an Arctic society.