Stand-up for integration: stand-up comedy and its effects on social integration of expats and other migrants

Abstract This paper explores the effects that stand-up comedy performed by expats and other migrants can have on social integration of migrants. The study is situated in the Czech Republic where migrant population is growing fast and the necessity for exploring successful integration strategies increases. The study is designed as ethnographic research which relies on participant observations – attending and recording stand-up performances; semi-structured qualitative interviews with comedians; and informal interviews with audience members. The main findings identify three key aspects through which stand-up comedy can foster social integration of migrants: community-building and a nurturing a sense of belonging; acquiring cultural competencies of the host culture; and enabling inter-cultural understanding through cultural exchange.