Migrant Social Networks: Vehicles for Migration, Integration, and Development

Social networks are utilized every day throughout the world by family, friends, community members, businesses, organizations, government agencies, and a wide range of others. But not all social networks are created equal.

Migrant social networks are quite different from others in terms of their composition, how they are used, and the effect they have on the lives of millions of people currently living and working away from home. While the notion that social networks play a role in one’s life may seem quite obvious, the importance of migrant networks in affecting outcomes for migrants, their families, and their communities cannot be overstated.

This article is meant to serve as a primer on migrant social networks as one of the fundamentals of the migration process, and will discuss what they are, what they mean, and why they are important.

Click here to read the article.

Author: Maritsa V. Poros (City University of New York)