Faith, migration and business: The role of Pentecostalism in migrant entrepreneurial practices in the UK

Villares-Varela, Maria and Sheringham, Olivia (2019) Faith, migration and business: The role of Pentecostalism in migrant entrepreneurial practices in the UK. British Sociological Association Annual Conference 2019: Challenging Social Hierarchies and Inequalities, Gasgow Caledonial University, Glasgow, United Kingdom. 24 - 26 Apr 2019.

Abstract

This paper analyses the role of Pentecostalism in migrant entrepreneurial practices. Whilst the link between religion and enterprise is at the core of foundational sociological essays – including Weber’s discussion of the relation between religion and the emergence of capitalism - the connection between religious faith and business practices has remained, until recently, notably under-explored. A growing body of work is emerging which examines the connection of religiosity and workplace practices and enterprise. Elsewhere, and within a wider body of work examining the ‘post-secular’ landscape of many European cities, scholars have explored the role of Faith-Based Organisations (FBOS) in welfare provision, outlining the ways in which the boundaries between the work of faith-motivated and secular organisations are becoming increasingly blurred. Yet less attention has been paid to entrepreneurship, both in terms of churches themselves as entrepreneurial actors and generators of particular norms and values about entrepreneurship, and the wider entrepreneurial aspirations of believers. Our focus on Pentecostalism emerges from its importance amongst new Christian migrant communities in the UK and its emphasis on the promise of prosperity, its success among the poor and its role in career aspirations. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Pentecostal migrants in the UK, in this paper we critically examine: i) the role of Pentecostal churches in supporting entrepreneurial activities among migrant communities; and ii) the ways in which Pentecostal beliefs and values influence the aspirations and practices of migrant entrepreneurs.

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Contributors

Author: Maria Villares-Varela

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