Migrant Organisations: Embodied Community Capital?

Abstract

The notion of migrants’ social networks has often been juxtaposed - if not conflated — with the role of migrant organisations (Jacobs and Tillie, 2004). These can be broadly defined as non-profit, migrant-led associations aiming to provide practical and social support to spécifie migrant groups. Sometimes taking the shape of ‘community houses’, with open spaces for socialisation, migrant organisations can offer a range of services such as legal and employment advice, training, language support, signposting, cultural activities, youth groups, older people clubs and so on. Having attracted a growing interest in recent years (Moya, 2005; Schrover and Vermeulen, 2005; Pries and Sezgin, 2012), migrant organisations are generally considered important means of support and integration for ethnic minorities, and particularly for first-generation and newly arrived migrants and refugees (Zetter and Pearl, 2000; Griffiths et al, 2005). Rex (1987) identified five different functions of such associations: overcoming isolation, providing material help, defending interests, promoting culture and maintaining links with the homeland. As well as providing tailored services, these organisations have a major role in increasing the civic engagement and in reducing the social exclusion of their users, in other words, in strengthening their social capital.