Development of Social Capital in the Host Country: Turkiyeli Immigrants in Canada

• In Event: 242 - Section on International Migration Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 08. Migrant Social Capital

Abstract

This paper examines social capital development experiences of immigrants from Turkey to Canada (Turkiyeli immigrants); which is an understudied immigrant group. When immigrants migrate to their host country, they leave behind their social capital in their home country. Hence, they need to restore new social networks in their host country, in which they may face significant challenges (Nakhaie and Kazemipur 2013). In this respect, this paper aims to explore social capital development skills and strategies of Turkiyeli immigrants with professional and non-professional jobs in Canada. Drawing on research conducted in Toronto and London, Ontario, I discuss (a) whether it is an easy process for Turkiyeli immigrants to develop a social capital in their host country, (b) what type(s) of social capital is mostly created and also how it is created, and (c) in what ways type of job (i.e., professional and non-professional) affects social capital development processes. Drawing on the analysis of in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews with 36 immigrants, this paper argues that there is a relation between the development of both bonding and bridging social capital and the socio-economic status of immigrants.

Author

• Guliz Akkaymak, University of Western Ontario