Marta Kindler, Katarzyna Wójcikowska-Baniak.
2018.
Social networks and integration of migrants from Ukraine. Qualitative research report
CMR Working Papers nr 107(165)
Abstract
The aim of the report is the analysis of mechanisms behind labour migrants’ social network formation and the role of networks in the process of everyday integration, understood as interaction in vital areas of people’s lives, such as work, education or free time. The analysis is based on data deriving from a qualitative research conducted among Ukrainian labour migrants working in both the primary and the secondary labour market sector in Poland. In the first part of the report we analyse the mechanisms of Ukrainian labour migrants’ tie formation with other Ukrainians and with Poles – in the work environment, during studies or through hobby groups. We show that the migrants’ networks are characterised by homogeneity in various dimensions: nationality, regional origin, migration experience and socio-occupational status and we identify the reasons behind this. The second part of the report concerns the role of social networks in providing instrumental and emotional support. We distinguish resources, to which migrants have access through their social networks and their meaning for integration in economic, legal and socio-cultural dimensions. According to our research results, migrants can in a satisfactory way accomplish their migration goals, relying primarily on ties to other Ukrainians, and ties to Poles do not have an impact on the their sense of feeling integrated in Poland.
Keywords
social networks, social capital, integration, migrant workers from Ukraine, Poland
