Social Networks and Migration: Relocations, Relationships and Resources

Description

Leading migration researcher Louise Ryan’s topical and intersectional book provides rich insights into migrants’ social networks. It draws on more than 200 interviews with migrants who followed various transnational routes in every decade since the 1940s, in order to build valuable longitudinal perspectives and comparisons. With a particular focus on London, it charts how social networks are formed and sustained, how trust is developed and how social support is accessed, and explores the key opportunities and obstacles that migrants encounter. This is a seminal fusion of migration studies and social network analysis that casts new light on both subjects, essential for those interested in immigration, ethnicity, diversity and inequalities. Cover Series Social Networks and Migration: Relocations, Relationships and Resources Copyright information Table of contents List of figures About the Author Acknowledgments 1 Introduction: Embarking on a Book about Networks Key statement of intent Research career Embarking on a book Kathleen’s story The structure of the book 2 Conceptualising Migrant Networks: Advancing the Field of Qualitative Social Network Analysis Introduction Maryam’s story Looking beyond the metaphor: adopting a network lens to understand relationality Networks and resources: beyond the bonding and bridging capital dichotomy Dynamism and change over time Telling network stories: discursive devices and meaning making Conclusion 3 Researching Migration and Networks: Empirical and Methodological Innovations Making decisions about how to analyse the enlarged corpus of data Thick descriptions Reflexivity Asking questions about social ties Repeat interviewing over time Sociograms and interviews The presentation of the network self Adrianna’s story Conclusion 4 Social Networks and Stories of Arrival Introduction Howard’s story Contextualising the lure of strong ties Weak ties – though often in tandem with strong ties Romance and marriage migration: looking beyond dyads Negative ties Enter the internet – replacing the need for social networks? Fragile, fleeting and loose connections Organisational ties – Information and communication technology Conclusion 5 Employment, Deskilling and Reskilling: Revisiting Strong and Weak Ties Daragh’s story Being a ‘good networker’: the direct and overt role of networks in London’s financial district Converting cultural capital and the role of weak ties Drawing on social ties to navigate hostile working environments Co-ethnic negative social ties and the dark side of social capital The role of networks in restarting careers at different family life stages Conclusion 6 Evolving Networks in Place over Time: A Life Course Lens Introduction Irène’s story Making new friends in new places: students and network elasticity Networks and identities: beyond one-dimensional homophily Befriending the natives: network closure? Getting along with the neighbours: the enduring salience of propinquity Evolving networks through the life course: the role of child-based sociality Ageing – changing social networks through the life course Conclusion 7 Transnational Ties: Narrating Relationality, Resources and Dynamics over Time Introduction Agnieszka’s story The strength and intensity of family ties Family tensions and fractured transnational kinship ties “It’s like a different friendship”: the dynamics of transnational friendship ties Transnational communication over time: from writing letters to reading Facebook Remittances: the flow of financial resources through transnational networks Transnational care networks through the life course: the need for propinquity Transnational networks and questions of return Conclusion 8 Conclusion: Thoughts and Future Directions Introduction The contribution of ‘telling network stories’ Revisiting large, longitudinal qualitative data sets Challenging the strong tie versus weak tie dichotomy Exploring the role of networks across different labour market sectors Analysing the dynamism of friendship ties over time Exploring transnational relations Unsettling events Future directions Appendix: Details of the Various Research Projects Underpinning This Book Irish nurses in Britain in the post- war era (2004–2005) Post- accession Polish migration to London Muslims in the London Borough of Barnet French highly skilled migrants in the financial sector (2010–2013) Irish highly qualified migrants in Britain post-economic recession (2013– 2014) Polish migrants in London: ten years since accession (2014) Older migrants in London (2017–2019) Notes References Index