ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates how Assyrians in Sweden have built social capital and how the role of religion has assumed a different and less central role in their lives. It uses the term 'Assyrians' as a cross-denominational name, one of the accepted names used when referring to members of different churches of the Syriac tradition. The Assyrian case constitutes an example for understanding the transformation of Middle Eastern Christian immigrant groups in the diaspora context. A Gemeinschaft produces more bonding social capital, based on community values, strong personal relations and the strength of collective ties. The mass migration of Assyrians to Sweden took place during the 1970s and 1980s and led to an important transformational change in the socio-cultural structure of Assyrians. In the Middle East, they lived in a traditional society in which collectively shared values were central to their social relations. In the context of the social capital: the greater the bridging social capital, the greater the civic engagement.
