Programme Erasmus + Europe on the move : Migration Biographies
Theses
migrant clubs for that reason . 45 Informal sport groups without registration represent a third form of selforganization . 46
4.1.1 . Ethnicity and Interethnical Relations
Ethnospecific communities of interest give immigrants a possibility to realize their ethnical and national identity in the host country . They symbolize their origin for example in their emblem ( e . g . Croatian checkerboard pattern ) and in the name of the club ( e . g . “ FC Croatia München ”). During the secession wars on the Balkan the Yugoslavian clubs were divided by ethnicities as a result of the so called “ long distance nationalism ” 47 , that increased interethnical tensions among Yugoslavs all around the world . Confrontations were not uncommon for the newly formed Croatian clubs when playing against a Serbian team as the sport was relatively politicized at the time , although in general the political impact on the sporting life in Germany was limited . The different clubs also served as a contact point for war refugees and provided ethno-solidary support for them .
4.2 . The Croatian Mission figure 5 : Emblem of the FC Croatia München 48
The Catholic Church is an international organization , since religion and therefore Catholicism in general is hardly affected by nationality or ethnicity . Although in Yugoslavia the Catholics lived mostly in Croatia and Slovenia , whereas the Orthodox are located in Serbia and the Muslims in Bosnia 49 . To take care of immigrants and refugees and their specific needs , missions for minorities were established that provided pastoral care , social support and masses in the respective mother tongue read by priests from the particular country . They also organize a variety of cultural events as well as leisure programs . 50 In the following migrant networking in religious terms will be described , using the example of the Croatian Mission in Germany .
. As 340.000 persons with a Croatian background live in Germany , it is not surprising that the Croatian Mission is very present . The relatively high number of 95 communities and 97 priests reflects the importance of religion for the immigrants . A catholic representation for Croatians has been a connection point since the beginning of the ethnic groups ’ establishment in Germany . The mission offers folklore classes , choirs , football and trips to the home country as well as other German cities , thanks to a high financial potency , generated through a high number of members and a favorable tax law for dioceses . 51 As Yugoslavian Catholicism in particular is very closely bonded to Croatian nationalist ideals , the masses were sometimes used for political campaigns by nationalist expatriates like Dr . Jelic in Berlin . 52
The pastors not only took care of the migrants ’ mental and religious needs , but gave extensive support by means of social assistance as well . Through regular cultural events organized by the mission , the immigrants were given a possibility of identification with their home and the other people that share their destiny . Their aims
45 ( Stahl , 2011 , S . 75-77 )
46 ( Stahl , 2011 , S . 80 )
47 ( Stahl , 2011 , S . 117 )
49 ( Kube , 2005 )
50 ( Pfister , 2010 , S . 45 ff .)
51 ( Thränardt & Schultze , 2013 , S . 33 f .)
52 ( Thränardt & Schultze , 2013 , S . 37 ; Thaden , 2014 , S . 48 )
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