Handbook on International Migration and Social Networks

This insightful Handbook explores the impact of social networks on migration, encompassing relationships between families, friends, communities and institutions. It shows how these networks shape migration decisions, facilitate border crossings and support life in new places.

Leading researchers from across the globe adopt interdisciplinary methodological perspectives to assess a wide range of migration types including labor, student and refugee mobility. The Handbook examines how existing connections can positively influence migration, focusing on key factors such as access to housing, employment and childcare, as well as the ability to maintain connections with countries of origin. It also reveals how social dimensions can limit migration or expose individuals to risks, depending on their gender, age and legal status. Drawing on diverse case studies, this Handbook provides a rich, real-world understanding of migration not as an isolated journey, but as a deeply social and relational process.

This Handbook is a beneficial resource for scholars and students of migration studies, cultural sociology, geography, development studies, political science and international relations. Containing actionable policy insights and a forward-looking research agenda, it is also an essential read for both practitioners and policymakers working in migration-related fields.