Socio-cultural consequences

‘Displacing Deviance…’ is a state-of-the-art research project into transnational family practices. It examines ‘disciplinary return’ - young second-generation migrants sent ‘home’ to their countries of heritage by their parents as a disciplinary measure – a widespread practice which has not yet been the focus of direct research. Second-generation ties to the homeland are critical to issues of integration, yet understanding of second-generation transnationalism is thin. Examining ‘disiplinary return’ within the Nigerian diaspora will establish new, in-depth understanding of how migrants navigate transnational structures of opportunity and constraint through their family practice. This will shed light on the relationship between socio-economic challenges faced in ‘host’ countries, and how migrants build loyalties and identities in a transnational context. It will produce findings of relevance to policy concerns about societal challenges around multicultural integration and minority youth in the education and criminal justice sectors. The research approach is innovative, answering calls for youth-centric, multi-sited, and intergenerational research into transnational families, thus far mostly studied via first-generation migrant parents in single locations. Qualitative research with migrant parents and youth, and participatory research with migrant youth, will be undertaken in the USA, Nigeria and the UK. Supervision by a world expert, Dr Coe at Rutgers, in the outgoing phase will provide a unique training opportunity for the researcher and excellent means to build networks. Expertise gained will be transferred back into Europe in the incoming phase by working with Dr Dwyer, co-director of the Migration Research Unit (Geography Department) at UCL, a hub for migration research with Europe-wide networks. This will maximise output which advance theoretical debates around migration and transnationalism, speak to policy debates, and capture public audiences.

Research project funded by the Academy of Finland (no 295417). The project studies transnational ties and practices of immigrant and diaspora communities. It provides information about the processes whereby social resources can bridge the divide between migrants’ new home countries and societies of origin. This project examines how social resources are mobilized as social or political action among members of diaspora communities both in the societies of settlement and departure. The case studies include Filipino migrants in Finland and their family members back home; second generation Kurds active in Kurdish diaspora organisations in Finland and France; and Finnish migrants in Western Europe and North America. The results provide information on the scope, nature and intensity of migrant communities’ transnational engagements in or towards Finland. It also sheds light on the structural factors that impede or facilitate the creation and maintenance of such engagements.

The planned study aims at the investigation of the phenomenon what is known as marriage migration (also called transnational marriage) to Germany by male Muslim migrants. By means of biographical narrative interviews with male migrants from North Africa and Turkey, the research project aims at dealing with the multidimensional and multifaceted character of male marriage migration to Germany. The subject male marriage migration can be approached from different perspectives and related aspects. In the frame of this research project, through a sampling which consists of married couples composed of a male migrant from one of the countries mentioned above and a female descendant of a migrant family with a residence permit in Germany, we want to consider this issue in all its complexity and implications regarding the debates on integration of the migrants, integration of male migrants into the labour market, gender relations and dynamics within the migrant family, and (un) chancing conceptions and visions of manhood in migration processes and the contestation/ negotiation of migrant masculinities. Regarding the studies of the last years it is noteworthy that all marriage migration studies are rather focussing on women as migrating subjects. Although it is noticed, too, that there are men as well migrating to their wives, there is no study focussing exclusively on migrating men in context of marriage. This fact may be - especially in Germany - an expression of the emotional public discussion concerning forced marriages. Nevertheless, the marriage migration of men is the desideratum of past and current marriage migration studies. This gap will be filled with the following research proposal. Our hypothesis is that women of the second or third generation of migrant families might be hoping for a realistic chance of founding a family and bringing up children through marrying a partner from the country of origin while they continue to work and remain the bread winners in the country of immigration and thus strengthen their autonomy (while their husbands are waiting for working permits and/or job opportunities and meanwhile have to take over care obligations within the family). In general, we want to show that male marriage migration can be seen both as "cause and the effect" of changing gender orders.

"Das Teilprojekt wird im Rahmen des BIM-Forschungs-Interventions-Cluster ""Solidarität im Wandel?"" durchgeführt, das durch die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration gefördert wird. Das Projekt untersucht exemplarisch am Beispiel polnischstämmiger, in Deutschland lebender Frauen, wie sich Migrant*innen aus Osteuropa für Geflüchtete engagieren, was sie dazu motiviert und welche Werteeinstellungen diesem Engagement zugrunde liegen. Diese Fragen interessieren vor allem im Kontext der Solidarisierung in Europa und der kontrastierenden Positionen osteuropäischer EU-Mitgliedstaaten, die sich gegen die Aufnahme von Geflüchteten aussprechen. Diese Positionen gehen mit einer vergleichsweise hohen Fremdenfeindlichkeit und Nationalisierung der Bevölkerung in Osteuropa einher. Bisherige Forschungsergebnisse zeigen diesbezüglich, dass Migrantinnen aus Polen häufig in der Arbeit mit Geflüchteten in Deutschland engagiert sind, obwohl sie in Polen nie aktiv gewesen sind. Diese Einstellung „erlernen“ sie vielmehr nach der Migration. Durch den Vergleich der Ergebnisse dieser Studie mit Umfragen in Polen sollen die Auswirkungen der Migration auf ehrenamtliches Engagement nun bestimmt werden. Da die Migrant*innen soziale Netzwerke in das Herkunftsland pflegen, kann eine Änderung von Werten und Einstellungen auch auf Nicht-Migrant*innen wirken. Auch durch ihr Wahlverhalten in Deutschland und Polen können Migrant*innen die Prozesse der Solidarisierung in Europa beeinflussen."

"Theoretical background and objectives Economic participation of migrants has been a major problem in many European countries for the last decades. There is overwhelming statistical evidence for the problematic labour market status of migrants, but data also show that not all migrant groups are affected to the same extent. Previous studies have revealed that differences in socio-economic integration are strongly related to ethnic origin. However, this research does not allow us to firmly establish to what extent cultural and religious factors are responsible for the differential socio-economic position of ethnic groups. Therefore, we investigate the effects of host-country orientation and cultural difference of migrants on their socio-economic integration in Germany, analysing unemployment and employment durations of male and female migrants, as well as transitions from domestic work to employment for female migrants from Turkey, Former Yugoslavia, Greece, Spain and Italy. Given the large gap in unemployment and employment rates not only between natives and migrants, but also between groups of migrants, we look at several economic, human capital and cultural factors in order to test whether migrant-specific characteristics can help to explain ethnic group differences in labour market outcomes. The migrant-specific cultural variables we investigate include host-country language proficiency, interethnic contacts, host-country media consumption, and religiosity. In the case of married female migrants, the analysis moreover takes relevant characteristics of their husbands into account, which have not received attention in earlier studies. Research design and methodology The German Socio-Economic Panel provides reliable longitudinal data, allowing us to conduct analyses over a period of nearly 20 years (1988-2006). We use duration data to analyse the hazard of labour market status transitions by estimating Cox regression models with a random frailty term to account for unobserved heterogeneity. Individual longitudinal data on employment trajectories of migrants have been combined with labour market context data and relevant human capital and cultural factors. A longitudinal approach is crucial for addressing this research question, since the relationship between socio-cultural factors such as host-country language proficiency and interethnic contacts and labour market integration is likely to be recursive. Our samples cover not only persons born outside Germany, but also their 2nd generation offspring. Findings The results indicate that although labour market transitions of migrants strongly depend on the labour market context, host-country orientation and religiosity also have a certain impact on the labour market integration of individual migrants, especially on transitions into employment of male migrants and married migrant housewives. However, while for most of our cultural variables we find significant effects on the individual level, these factors do not help to clarify the differences among the different migrant groups, which persist at a similar level even after controlling for labour market, general human capital, as well as cultural variables."

The project will explore two interrelated sociocultural dynamics that impact the future of European integration and have a profound effect on the development of a common European culture by challenging established ethnic, class, linguistic and gendered divisions. These are: a.  the rise in migrant mobility and the establishment of transnational migrant networks that enable the construction and negotiation of new forms of hybrid identity and a sense of multiple belonging based on the experiences of cultural diversity and intercultural communication, and b. the spread of transnational digital networks that transcend state boundaries and exclusive national identities and give users the potential to participate directly in processes of cultural production, exchange and consumption particularly through the use of new media technologies.  More specifically the project will address the question of participation of migrant individuals and groups in transnational digital networks by employing innovative methodologies combining online and offline research. Emphasis will be placed on the ability of migrants to access and produce diverse digital spaces and use them to promote their own needs and demands, but also in the possibilities for the promotion of intercultural dialogue and cooperation that open through the development of new interactive media.  Gender will be mainstreamed and treated as an integral aspect of the research design and analysis throughout the project. In particular, the project will explore theways in which changing gender power relations shape identities and performativities in transnational digital and migrant networks. In order to disseminate information and put the findings of the research into practice, the project will develop a transnational migrant digital platform and an interactive digital game. 

The present study examines transformations of family norms through cross-border exposure to different family models. It focuses on the LGBT migrants from selected Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries with a constitutional same-sex marriage ban, but who now live in same-sex families in Belgium, one of the first countries to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption. This case study will explore how intercultural contact can improve reception of an institutional innovation such as same-sex family. This project is based on in-depth interviews with two groups sustaining ties across borders: (1) the CEE gays and lesbians in same-sex marriage or raising children with a same-sex partner in Belgium, and (2) their non-migrant family members, friends and neighbours in home communities. Migrant transnationalism scholars have established that migrants can effect change in their home communities not only by sending remittances, but also by transferring ideas and practices (social remittances). But empirical investigations of this phenomenon are still scarce, and typically focus on democratic ideas and practices. In a novel approach, the present study will analyse social remittances by examining cross-cultural effects of the institutional innovation of same-sex family, and it will further position its findings into the wider framework of social change analysis. In light of the European Parliament's recent decision to include LGBT and same-sex families' rights into the new EU gender equality strategy, the study's conclusions will also inform relevant policy strategies. By developing this study at the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Families and Sexualities at the UCL, the project will benefit from Centre's multidisciplinary perspective and expertise in transnational migrations, family norms and sexuality, to which the project will add a new perspective on the LGBT migrants from CEE, thus deepening Centre's focus on LGBT studies and widening their regional expertise.

"m Zentrum des Forschungsprojektes stehen zwei Themen: 1) die soziale Lebenssituation und die Bedingungen des Aufwachsens von jungen Menschen mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund und 2) die Auswirkungen der Lebenssituation auf die Einstellungen zu Angehörigen der eigenen sozialen Gruppe sowie zu Angehörigen anderer sozialer Gruppen. Im Rahmen der ersten Forschungsfrage sollen die objektiven Chancen für eine erfolgreiche schulische Karriere und für eine attraktive berufliche Position, sowie die subjektive Bewertung dieser Chancen von türkisch- und arabischstämmigen Jugendlichen mit jenen von deutschen Jugendlichen verglichen werden. Insbesondere soll untersucht werden in welchem Maße die Jugendlichen mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund von sozialer Desintegration betroffen sind. Von Interesse ist also, inwiefern den Jugendlichen Zugänge zu wichtigen gesellschaftlichen Teilsystemen, Partizipationsmöglichkeiten sowie Anerkennung verwehrt sind. Dies kann bei deutschen wie bei zugewanderten Personen gleichermaßen der Fall sein kann. Hierbei differenzieren wir wiederum zwischen der objektiven sozialen Desintegration und den subjektiv wahrgenommenen Desintegrationsrisiken und Desintegrationsängsten. Erfahrungen von Ausgrenzung und Benachteiligung, von struktureller und interpersoneller Diskriminierung, von Zurückweisung und Stigmatisierung durch die Mehrheitsbevölkerung aufgrund der ethnischen, religiösen und / oder sozialen Herkunft sollen im Rahmen dieses Forschungsprojekt erfasst werden. Bei der zweiten Forschungsfrage geht es um die Folgen solcher Erfahrungen. Dabei wird auf der einen Seite danach gefragt, ob Erfahrungen von verweigerter Teilhabe und Anerkennung dazu beitragen, dass sich Jugendliche in die ethnische oder soziale Eigengruppe zurückziehen mit dem Ziel ihre soziale Identität zu sichern. Auf der anderen Seite wird danach gefragt, inwiefern die Erfahrungen ggf. soziale Konflikte schüren und dazu beitragen können, dass Betroffene Vorurteile und Ressentiments gegenüber anderen Bevölkerungsgruppen in ihr Weltbild übernehmen. In diesem Zusammenhang sollen auch andere Einflussfaktoren auf Einstellungen gegenüber anderen ethnischen, religiösen und sozialen Gruppen berücksichtigt werden, so z.B. die sozialen und politischen Bezugskontexte, in denen die Jugendlichen sozialisiert werden, die Nutzung diverser (transnationaler) Medien usw. Das Wissen um solche Vorurteile und Ressentiments ist aus wissenschaftlicher Perspektive deshalb von Bedeutung, da nur auf der Basis solcher Kenntnisse Vorkehrungen getroffen werden können, potentielle soziale Konflikte vorzubeugen. Da in politischen und öffentlichen Diskussionen das Ausmaß von vorurteilsbelasteten Einstellungen und sozialen Konflikten zumeist über- und die von positiven, vorurteilsfreien Meinungen und friedlichem Miteinander unterschätzt werden, wird im Rahmen des Projektes zum einen das Ziel verfolgt, zu einer realistischen Einschätzung der sozialen Beziehungen und Konfliktpotentiale zu gelangen. Zum anderen geht es darum, die Hintergründe für soziale Konflikte, in die Jugendliche involviert sind, aufzudecken, aber auch die Hintergründe von positiven sozialen und interkulturellen Beziehungen zu analysieren. Wir gehen dabei davon aus, dass die jeweiligen Einstellungen in den jeweiligen sozialen Lebensbedingungen sowie in den biographischen Erfahrungen verankert sind und in starkem Maße davon abhängen, wie die Jugendlichen ihre Chancen der Teilhabe an der Gesellschaft und die persönliche Entwicklung beurteilen. Für eine präzise Bestandsaufnahme werden zunächst offene Gespräche (problemzentrierte Interviews und Gruppendiskussionen) mit Jugendlichen türkischer und arabischer Herkunft in vier Städten geführt. In der zweiten Projekthälfte sollen dann in den vier Städten an Schulen (Hauptschulen, Realschulen, Gesamtschulen, Gymnasien, Berufsschulen) Befragungen mit einem standardisierten Instrument (Fragebogen) durchgeführt werden. Die Befragung soll Vergleiche zur Lebenssituation und zu Einstellungsmustern von jungen Menschen unterschiedlicher Herkunft (deutsch, türkisch, arabisch, andere Migrationshintergründe) ermöglichen."

This paper aims at exploring how countries of origin can affect migrants’ socio-cultural integration in multicultural European societies. Socio-cultural integration is considered through the lenses of different kinds of social interactions between migrants and host society namely: intermarriages, interethnic friendship, interethnic relations in workplaces, and encounters in the neighbourhood. The literature review highlighted that these social interactions prove to depend on a multiplicity of factors related mainly to the destination country (such as residential segregation, degree of racism and acceptance, opportunities for encounters and neighbourhood effects) and of individual factors related to the migrant (such as demographic characteristics, migration trajectory and length of residence and work position). The impact of countries of origin and transnational links is more difficult to assess considering that little research has directly dealt with the issue. However, the paper shows that some non-state actors such as family members and some state-actors such as Ministries or consulates, may have an influence on the social interactions of emigrants abroad even though this influence can be indirect. The paper tries to map actors and related actions including very specific cases like family pressure to discourage intermarriage or broader ones through programmes targeting diaspora which may have an empowerment effect on emigrants and thus foster their socio-cultural integration. Finally, through the paper, some specific case studies on transnational ties and integration are presented and several hypotheses and questions for further research are highlighted.