Organisers: IMISCOE Research Group “Diversity, Migration and Social Cohesion (Div/Mig/Soc)”
Dr Marta Kindler (Centre of Migration Research, University of Warsaw)
Dr Aneta Piekut (Sheffield Methods Institute, University of Sheffield)
A substantial number of studies mention social networks’ function in facilitating mobility from one country to another or to multiple destinations, and a relatively large number of authors discuss thoroughly social networks’ role in the migration decision-making process (see for example Light and von Scheven 2008, Massey et al. 2014, McKenzie and Rapoport 2010, Palloni, Massey et al. 2001, Riosmena and Massey 2012, van Meeteren and Pereira 2013, Vasta and Kaandilige 2010, White and Ryan 2008, Olwig 2012). Already over two decades ago, Cases and Gurak (1992) pointed in their comprehensive literature review to a growing body of literature on networks’ function in adaptation in the country of destination. They distinguish between the networks’ role in short run adjustment and the integration into main institutions in society in the long run. In the last decade, research on neighbourhoods provides results on the role of migrants’ social capital in social cohesion, with social networks treated as a component of social capital (Lancee and Dronkers 2011, Vervoort 2012, Górny and Toruńczyk 2013, Laurence 2013).
The session “Social networks in migration studies” will provide an opportunity to exchange reflections on the participants’ theoretical and methodological aspects of studies, as well as research results, focusing on the role of social networks in migrants’ adaptation and everyday functioning.
This session invites presentations on the following topics:
- Social networks’ character: the case of migrants and non-migrants
- The role of network resources in migrant adaptation, with a critical analysis of bridging/bonding social capital
- The role of social networks in integration of persons engaged in internal and external mobility, with a critical analysis of the notion of integration
- Social networks, ethnic diversity and community cohesion
- The issue of network boundaries and access to resources
- International comparisons of social networks’ dynamic, including Mediterranean societies
We welcome submissions from a broad range of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches.
Please submit an abstract to marta.kindler@uw.edu.pl and a.piekut@sheffield.ac.uk by the 10th of December 2017. Abstracts of app. 250 words should include authors’ names, a title, the presenter(s) institutional affiliation(s) and contact details. The author(s) of accepted abstracts will be notified in February 2018.
More information about the conference is available here: https://www.imiscoe.org/news/network-news/745-imiscoe-annual-conference-2018-call-for-papers-panels-and-workshops