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Social Networks and Transnational Migration Practices

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Migration and Transnationalism Between Switzerland and Bulgaria

Abstract

The leading question of this chapter is how networking models develop during the process of migration—starting from organizing the initial travel, going through the challenges of finding a job and ending with transnational practices. In this process, three different types of networking are addressed: one defined by relatives, one based on colleagues and acquaintances and one characterized by the employers’ support, typical for the more settled type of migrants. The chapter addresses the interaction of migrants with the home country, showing that it is increasingly dominated by modern IT communication. Regarding interactions with the host community, the analysis indicates a pattern orientated towards the Bulgarian Diaspora though more educated migrants tend to communicate in wider and culturally diverse networks. Mobility apart, the research shows that remittances along with sending of goods emerge as social transfers and represent important transnational practices. Finally, the chapter highlights a number of interesting findings, revealing migration as a driver of shifts in national and ethnic identity. The data speaks about identity shifts leading to a self-identification with other more positively perceived ethnic, national and supra national groups.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Base: number of responses in a multiple question.

  2. 2.

    In a multiple response calculation, if the base is the number of responses, the sum of the various options results in 100 %.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agency for Socioeconomic Analyses, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Dotcho Mihailov

  2. Social Policies and Social Work, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

    Marina Richter

  3. Faculty of Communication Sciences, University of Lugano (USI), Lugano, Switzerland

    Paolo Ruspini

Authors
  1. Dotcho Mihailov
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  2. Marina Richter
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  3. Paolo Ruspini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dotcho Mihailov .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Social Policies and Social Work, University of Fribourg Social Policies and Social Work, Fribourg, Switzerland

    Marina Richter

  2. Faculty of Communication Sciences, University of Lugano (USI) Faculty of Communication Sciences, Lugano, Switzerland

    Paolo Ruspini

  3. Agency for Socioeconomic Analyses , Sofia, Bulgaria

    Dotcho Mihailov

  4. Economic Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Economic Research Institute, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Vesselin Mintchev

  5. Social Policies and Social Work, University of Fribourg Social Policies and Social Work, Fribourg, Switzerland

    Michael Nollert

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Mihailov, D., Richter, M., Ruspini, P. (2017). Social Networks and Transnational Migration Practices. In: Richter, M., Ruspini, P., Mihailov, D., Mintchev, V., Nollert, M. (eds) Migration and Transnationalism Between Switzerland and Bulgaria. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31946-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31946-9_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31944-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31946-9

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