Engaging for the Common Good: Typology, Motivation and Scope of Civic Engagement of Buddhists in Italy and Switzerland

This article takes stock and comparatively analyses the scope and motivations of civic activities of Buddhists and Buddhist organisations in Italy and Switzerland. Based on the analytical perspective of civic engagement we suggest discerning civic activities on a continuum from non-engagement to activist engagement, distinguishing the four types of non-engagement, intermediary, influencer, and activist. Following, the article differentiates four social motivations and four Buddhist motivations for civic engagement. Apparently, the scope of civic engagement appears much larger in Italy than in Switzerland. The article formulates four hypothetical explanations for the difference, arguing that national and cultural specifics as well as differences in the legal system regarding the governance of religions are crucial in understanding the dissimilar scope of Buddhist civic engagement in the two countries.