RELIGIOSITY, PERSONAL VALUES, AND SOCIAL CAPITAL IN MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAN (MENA) COUNTRIES

Abstract

The majority of research on social capital, religion, and values has been conducted in Europe. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, there is a scarcity of convincing empirical evidence on the impact of religion and values on social capital. To fill this evidence gap, this study examines the relationship between religiosity-related variables, values, and social capital in 9 MENA countries utilizing individual-level data from Round 7 of the World Values Survey. Using the definition of social capital as a form of solidarity, we measure prosocial capital through civic norms and civic activism. Based on the findings of the factor analysis, two composite indicators were constructed: civic norms and civic activism. Rather than following a single measure of religiosity, as is common in the literature, we consider other measures that encapsulate important notions of religiosity in MENA countries, such as self-defined spirituality and intensity of belief. Linear regression was used to determine the effect of religiosity on civic norms and civic activism. According to the findings, social trust is negatively related to civic norms and positively associated with civic activism. The more frequently individuals pray and define themselves as having a religious affiliation, the higher their level of civic norms, and the more frequently individuals attend religious services, the lesser their level of civic norms.