Network Analysis Approach to Migration Processes

Михаела Мишева

doi:10.37075/RP.2015.2.09

Authors

Chief Assist. Prof. Dr Mihaela Misheva Department of Economic Sociology, Faculty of General Economics, UNWE Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37075/RP.2015.2.09

Keywords:

Network theory, Immigrant social capital, Migration

F22, J61, Z13

Abstract

The study examines international migrations as a network theory object. The research field spreads through the question: What is the analytical potential of network theories in migration? What are the theoretical concepts, key for migrations processes and research? The main thesis of this study is limited to the statement that today network theories are the most appropriate analytical approach to migration with epistemological potential to improve integration through social capital.Network theories allow us to see migration not only through individual decisions of migrating but as a general result - product of interpersonal, interactions, embedded in the economic and political environment; reveals the essence of contemporary migration as a "self-sustaining"; balanced micro and meso level analysis - there is room for a whole range of subjects: family, friends, employers. Reaching also through macro level: remittances, information flow and migration policies.Migrations are placed on a continuum that can be analysed through the social capital of the participants in the migration networks. An attempt was made to present the possibilities for the integration process of social immigrant capital. The analysis is supported by data from: an empirical study on the topic "Social networks and social capital of immigrants in Bulgaria" conducted within the project financed by the Research Activity of University of National and World Economy in 2014, publications of the National Bank of Bulgaria; World Bank researches, data from Eurostat and some basic parameters of the European migration policy, best practices and strategic documents.

References

Minchev, Veselin & Boshnakov, Venelin (2007). Effects, Profile, and Behavior of Returning Migrants in Bulgaria. Studies on Accelerated Development of the Bulgarian Economy.

Vankova, Zvezda (2012). Bulgaria in the International Index of Integration Policies for Migrants (MIPEX). Sotsiologicheski problemi, 1-2.

Ganev, G. (2005). Corruption in Contemporary Bulgaria: Analytical Overview. Transparency without Borders Association.

Economic Review. (2014). BNB.

Markova, E. (2013). Bulgarian Emigration: Theories, Policies, Empirical Research. Bulgarian Emigration: Theories, Policies, Empirical Research (Ed. Mincev, V. and Markova, E. and Mishueva, M. and Hristova-Balkanska, I. and Goev, V. and Kalchev, Y.). ISBN: 978-954-91905-8-8

Mirchev, M. (2011). Texts 2: A Call to Sociology. Assa-M. ISBN: 978-954-8177-53-5

Nonchev, A. & Encheva, S. (2010). Attitudes towards Foreigners: European Variants of (In)tolerance. Well-being and Trust: Bulgaria in Europe?. ISBN: 978-954-321-723-6

Petkov, K. (2009). Immigration, Identity and Citizenship: The Bulgarian Situation and European Context. Sociology, 2.

Rakadjiska, T. (2009). Social Capital. Cultural Adaptations of Bulgarian Business in the Process of Euro-Integration (Ed. Kolev, B. and Rakadjiska, T. and Stoyanova, M. and Todorova, S.).

Stoilova, Vyara (2012). The Man and His Social Capital. Yearbook of UNWE, 195-224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37075/YB.2012.1.06

Granovetter, M. (2002). Economic action and social structure: the problem of embeddedness. Ekonomicheskaya sotsiologiya, 3(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470755679.ch5

Akcapar (2009). Retinking migrants networks and social capital: a case study of Iranians in Turkey. IOM.

Castels, S. (2013). Understanding the relationship between the methodology and methods. Handbook of Research Methods in Migration (Ed. Vargas-Silva, C.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781005231.00007

Burawoy, Michael (1976). The Functions and Reproduction of Migrant Labor: Comparative Material from Southern Africa and the United States. American Journal of Sociology, 81(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/226185

Castels, S & Miller, M (2003). The age of migration. The Guilford Press.

Castels, S. (2013). Understanding the relationship between the methodology and methods. Handbook of Research Methods in Migration (Ed. Vargas-Silva, C.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781005231.00007

Granovetter, M. (1973). The strength of week ties. AJS. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/225469

Katseli, L., Lucas, R., & Xenogianni, T. (2006). Effects of Migration on Sending Countries: What Do We Know?. OECD.

Krishna, A. & Shrader, E. (1999). Social Capital Assessment Tool. World Bank.

Massey, Douglas S. (1994). The social and economic origin of immigration. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 510(1), 60-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716290510001005

Massey, D. (1996). Worlds in motion. Oxford: Clarendorn Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198294429.001.0001

MAIN FINDINGS | MIPEX 2025. (2015). URL: http://www.mipex.eu/key-findings (accessed 2015-05-18)

Piore, M. J. (1979). Birds of passage: Migrant labor and industrial societies. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2595581 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511572210

Slany, K. (1995). Migracje. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe.

Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2008 Revision. (2015). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). URL: http://esa.un.org/migration/index.asp?panel=1 (accessed 2015-09-27)