Institutional Logics within Faith-Based Aid

Nina G. Kurlberg is Postdoctoral Research Associate at Durham University. In her PhD (University of Edinburgh, 2023), she used the lens of institutional logics to explore what the faith orientation of faith-based organisations means in actual practice. Nina has worked within the international development sector for nearly a decade, both in the UK and Sri Lanka. Most recently, she worked for Tearfund – a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organisation – developing theology in the area of diversity and inclusion (D&I). Nina is co-editor of Theologies and Practices of Inclusion and Disability Inclusion in Africa.

• IntroductionFaith-Based Organisations (FBOs)FBOs within religions and developmentUnderstanding and researching FBOsRoadmap to the institutional logics perspective A critique of the existing frameworks The institutional logics perspective Overview of the book Structure Defining key terms 1 The institutional logics perspective in research Theoretical framework The institutional logics perspective Theoretical contribution of the book The significance of the field The field and the institutional logics perspective The field and FBOs Empirical research Developing a field-level typology of logics Methods of data collection Conclusion 2 Institutional logics within the practice of aid The historical roots of the practice of aid The emergence of development The emergence of humanitarianism The emergence of ‘long-distance advocacy’ The practice of aid post-WWII The post-WWII period The establishment of the sector The increasing professionalisation of aid The influence of the logics of corporation and market on organisational practice Key aspects of logics evidenced within the practice of aid post-WWII Conclusion 3 Institutional logics within the field Constructing a field-level typology of logics Identifying a suitable subcomponent of the field The process The typology of logics The logics The categories Conclusion 4 Institutional logics within a UK-Based FBO Data collection and processing Data collection Method for processing the data Data analysis Logics at the organisational level according to the typology Conclusion 5 Christian organising through the lens of institutional logics What institutional logics are in force and how are they manifested within the organisation? The logic of long-term sustainability The logic of impact The logic of participation and consensus-building The logic of pastoral care and support How do individual actors negotiate these logics on a daily basis? What role does the logic of religion play, and how does it interact with other institutional logics? What does the faith orientation of FBOs mean in practice? What questions is the FBO asking in this regard? How does faith actually influence organisational practice? Conclusion ConclusionSummary of argument Contribution of book Contribution to the study of FBOs in religions and development Contribution to the institutional logics perspective What next?

“In this impressive book Nina Kurlberg offers us a new lens for examining the operations of large faith-based organisations that takes seriously what their faith orientation means in actual practice. This suggests a new approach in the study of religion and development, of interest to scholars, development actors and faith-based organisations themselves.” Emma Tomalin, Professor of Religion and Public Life, University of Leeds “A valuable analysis of faith-based organisations that takes seriously the complex space between individual and collective identities. Nina Kurlberg carefully explores how religion is embedded in the institutional logics that frame aid and development work across the world today.”Mathew Guest, Professor in the Sociology of Religion, Durham University “Nina Kurlberg's book is a must-read for those interested in faith-based organisations (FBOs), offering a compelling and nuanced examination of their practice. By introducing a new perspective and developing an analytical tool based on it, Kurlberg provides a valuable framework for future studies in this field.”Gry Espedal, Theologian and Associate Professor at VID specialized University, Oslo, Norway