Migrant Capital ― Networks, Identities and Strategies

Migrant Capital presents state-of-the-art empirical, theoretical and methodological perspectives on migration, networks, social and cultural capital, exploring the ways in which these bodies of literature can inform and strengthen each other. In so doing, it brings the theoretical and methodological dimensions into dialogue with each other. The migrants discussed in the book are ethnically and socio-economically diverse and have a range of migratory trajectories and experiences. Various types of networks are looked at and compared: intra-ethnic and inter-ethnic; locally-based, national and transnational; informal and formal, including migrant community organisations. Migrant Capital is international in focus drawing on research from Australia, North America, the Caribbean and across Europe. Migration research often focuses on individual cases, thereby running the risk of over-emphasising the peculiarities of particular migrant groups and locations, leading to criticisms of empirical nationalism. The range of case studies in this collection can open up a comparative perspective in order to contribute to a broader theoretical framework rooted in empirical research.

Louise Ryan is Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Social Policy Research Centre at Middlesex University, UK. She has particular expertise on migration and social networks and her research has been published in many international journals. Her other books include Gendering Migration (2008) with Wendy Webster.

Umut Erel is Lecturer in Sociology at the Open University, UK. Her research interests are in gender, migration and citizenship. She has widely published on these issues in international journals and edited books, her recent publications include Migrant Women Transforming Citizenship: Lifestories from Germany and Britain (2009).

Alessio D'Angelo is Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences within the Social Policy Research Centre at Middlesex University, UK. He has extensive experience of conducting and coordinating national and international research and knowledge transfer projects on migration, equality, social networks and community organisations, with expertise in data mapping and visualization.