15 May - 12.30 - 14.00, Sala 23.103 (Mercè Rodoreda, 1st Floor, Campus Ciutadella)
Nina Eggert
University of Geneva
Migrant Networks in Context: The effect of Political Opportunities on Relational Structures in Two European Cities
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to analyze political integration dynamics of migrants through the study of organizational networks in the field of immigration. More precisely, by looking at the structure of immigrants' organizational networks in two different local political settings, hypotheses of the impact of political opportunity structures (POS) on migrants' organizational networks and the prevailing logics of interaction are tested. Drawing on social movement theories, more specifically the POS theory and the relational approach, the general assumption is that the specific political opportunity structure in the field of immigration shapes the logics of interaction of immigrants' associations. Moreover, the interaction between POS and network structures is expected to have implications for the political incorporation of migrant organizations. To examine what logics of interaction are taking place between migrant organizations and the effect on political incorporation, migrant organizational networks are compared in two cities: Lyon and Zurich. These two cities were selected as they parallel a long immigration tradition with a POS that differs on several aspects. Results show that network structures of migrant associations differ in both cities and that these differences can be traced back to the POS in which they are embedded. Furthermore, similar relational structures have different consequences for organizations' political incorporation according to the political opportunity structures. Dense network structures favor political participation of associations in Lyon. In contrast in Zurich, migrant associations embedded in dense relational structures show lower levels of political participation.
The seminar will be held in English. Attendance must be confirmed before Monday 14th May to flora.burchianti@upf.edu.