20245604(en)/7 - Third Spaces, Religiosity and Citizenship: Haitians and Venezuelans in Santiago de Chile (2018-2024)

Nicolás Gissi y Hedilberto Aguilar

Migrants in Santiago, originating from Latin American and Caribbean countries, whether they settled in Santiago a decade ago or have arrived recently, have revitalized their religious practices amid a national public security crisis and growing post-pandemic social tensions. Participating in both Catholic parishes and evangelical churches, Venezuelans and Haitians have turned these places into “third spaces” between home and work, individual and state, where they engage in community action within their neighborhoods. Through these gatherings, they create shared material and symbolic resources, all while aware of the rising xenophobia and racial prejudice from locals, who increasingly view migrant assemblies with suspicion. Using a qualitative approach, the study examines interactions, narratives, and practices in both peripheral and central urban churches, revealing the predominant social dynamics in contemporary Chilean society, marked by growing multiculturalism and exercise of effective citizenship in the struggle for recognition. Negative portrayals and narratives from the state and media are challenged through a more egalitarian, autonomous, and sacred framework, fostering social inclusion and enhancing local status.

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