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Associations of Migrants in Spain: An Enquiry into Their Digital Inclusion in the “Network Society” in the 2010s

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Abstract

This paper explores the way that associations of migrants in Spain (AMS) in the 2010 decade integrate into the Network Society by analyzing how they use information and communication technologies (ICTs), while looking at the potential implications of those technologies for fostering their social capital. To what extent are AMS using ICTs? To what degree is the use of those technologies improving their social capital? Original research of eighty-five associations of the largest migrant communities in Spain, i.e., Romanian, Moroccan, Ecuadorian, Colombian and Bolivian, in twenty-three municipalities in five Spanish regions, is presented here. The analysis focuses on the factors that influence the use of ICTs by AMS, such as the representatives’ technological skills, and on the relation that this use may have on their social capital, such as the construction of collaborative digital ecosystems that may positively enhance their ties with the host society.

Résumé

Cet article étudie comment les associations de personnes migrantes s’intègrent dans la société en réseau en analysant leur utilisation des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication (TIC) et en observant les implications potentielles de ces technologies dans la création de capital social. Comment les associations de personnes immigrées utilisent les TIC? Est-ce que ces technologies facilitent le développement de leur capital social? Nous présentons les résultats d’une investigation originale de quatre-vingt-cinq associations des origines les plus nombreuses en Espagne (Roumanie, Maroc, Equateur, Colombie et Bolivie) basées dans vingt-trois municipalités dans cinq régions espagnoles. L’analyse se concentre dans les facteurs qu’influencent l’utilisation des TIC dans ces organisations, tel que les compétences en technologie des représentants, et dans l’impact que cela peut avoir dans leur capital social, tel que la construction d’écosystèmes digitaux de collaborations que puissent rehausser leurs liens avec la société hôte.

Resumen

El presente artículo estudia el modo en que las asociaciones de personas inmigradas se integran en la sociedad red analizando el uso que hacen de las Tecnologías de la Información y de la Comunicación (TIC) y observando las potenciales implicaciones de estas tecnologías en su capital social. ¿Cómo utilizan las asociaciones de personas inmigradas las TIC? ¿Estas tecnologías facilitan el desarrollo de capital social? Presentamos aquí los resultados de una investigación original de ochenta y cinco asociaciones de los orígenes más numerosos en España (Rumanía, Marruecos, Ecuador, Colombia y Bolivia) situadas en veintitrés municipios de cinco comunidades autónomas españolas. El análisis se concentra en los factores que influyen en el uso de las TIC en estas organizaciones, como las competencias en tecnología de los representantes, y en el impacto que ello puede tener en su capital social, como la construcción de ecosistemas digitales de colaboración que puedan realzar las relaciones con la sociedad de acogida.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Source: AsITIC survey (2014)

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Notes

  1. The distinction between bonding and bridging social capital has received some level of criticism. See, for example, Blokland (2008). However, both concepts are still widely used.

  2. To gather this information, no SNSs were proposed, and it was an open question. WhatsApp appeared in some interviews but always related to the internal communication of the organization, among members, and not to communicate with other organizations.

  3. Opinions were gathered in the in-depth interviews (N = 56) carried out from April to July 2014.

  4. Scale adapted from Wellman et al. (2001) and Gareis, Hüsing, and Richardson (2008).

  5. The mentioned scale goes from 1 (never) to 7 (daily).

  6. The question asked was “How many associations does your association usually collaborate or share information with?”.

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Acknowledgements

The present paper is part of a larger research project titled “Integration and participation of migrant associations in the Information Society: Impact of Information and Communication Technologies, social inclusion and social integration of main migrant associations in Spain (AsITIC),” supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ref. CSO2012-31999). The authors would like to thank Dr. Sònia Pereira, University of Lisbon, and Robert C. Smith, CUNY, for previous revisions of the paper.

Funding

This study was supported by “Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación” (Grant Number CSO2012-31999).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de La Rioja, Avda. de la Paz, 93, 26006, Logroño, Spain

    Catalina Uzcanga

  2. Human Rights Institute, University of Deusto, Avenida de las Universidades 24, 48003, Bilbao, Spain

    Pedro J. Oiarzabal

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  1. Catalina Uzcanga
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Correspondence to Catalina Uzcanga.

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Uzcanga, C., Oiarzabal, P.J. Associations of Migrants in Spain: An Enquiry into Their Digital Inclusion in the “Network Society” in the 2010s. Voluntas 30, 947–961 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-019-00162-z

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