This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Ryan, L. Articles by Siara, B. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Social Networks, Social Support and Social Capital: The Experiences of Recent Polish Migrants in London

Middlesex University, l.ryan{at}mdx.ac.uk

Rosemary Sales

Middlesex University, r.sales{at}mdx.ac.uk

Mary Tilki

Middlesex University, m.tilki{at}mdx.ac.uk

Bernadetta Siara

City University, Bernadetta.Siara.1{at}city.ac.uk

There is growing interest in the role of migrants' social networks as sources of social capital. Networks are, however, often conceptualized rather loosely and insufficient attention has been paid to how migrants access existing networks or establish new ties in the `host' society.The assumption that migrants are able to access dense networks within close-knit local communities simplifies the experiences of newly arrived migrants, underestimating difficulties they may face in accessing support. Exploring the work of Putnam, as well as Coleman and Bourdieu, we critically engage with the conceptualization of bonding and bridging social capital, and the relationship between them, through an exploration of Polish migrants' networking skills and strategies. In examining the different types and levels of support derived through social ties, this article contributes to understandings of social networking by arguing for a greater differentiation and specification of networks both vertically and horizontally, but also spatially and temporally.

Key Words: migration • Polish migrants • social networks • social capital • trust

Sociology, Vol. 42, No. 4, 672-690 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0038038508091622


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?