A Life-Course Perspective on Migration and Integration

Over the last four decades the sociological life course approach with its focus on the interplay of structure and agency over time life course perspective has become an important research perspective in the social sciences. Yet, while it has successfully been applied to almost all fields of social inquiry it is much less used in research studying migrant populations and their integration patterns. This is puzzling since understanding immigrants’ integration requires just the kind of dynamic research approach this approach puts forward: any integration theory actually refers to life course processes. This volume shows fruitful cross-linkages between the two research traditions.

A range of studies are presented that all apply sociological life course concepts to research on migrants and migrant groups in Europe. The book is organized thematically, indicating different important domains in the life course. Using a wide variety of methodological approaches, it covers both quantitative studies based on population census data and survey material as well as qualitative studies based on interviews. Attention is paid to the life courses of those who migrated themselves as well as their offspring. The studies cover different European countries, relating to one national context or a particular local setting in a city as well as cross-country comparisons. Overall the book shows that applying the sociological life course approach to migration and integration research may advance our understanding of immigrant settlement patterns as well as further develop the life course perspective

• Acculturation
• Age-at-migration
• Career trajectories
• Educational attainment
• Ethnic segregation
• Family
• Immigrant
• Immigrant's labor market integration
• Interethnic union
• Intermarried ethnic minorities
• Linked life-events
• Longitudinal quantitative
• Low skilled youth
• Migration and integration
• Native origin
• Occupational mobility
• Process of assimilation
• Qualitative data
• Second generation
• Social integration
• Social networks
• Sociological life course approach
• Sociology
• Structural integration
• Vocational training

From the reviews:

“‘A Life-Course Perspective on Migration and Integration’ is an edited volume that compiles a number of articles on immigrants’ integration. … Unlike many edited books, this volume has a clear theoretical message and a visible red thread. … the volume does a good job in showing that the life course approach is something between a helpful reminder of the theoretical principles that should guide empirical integration research and a magic bullet for those interested in the topic.” (Claudia Diehl, European Journal of Population, Vol. 28, 2012)

• Bremen International Graduate School of, Social Sciences (BIGSSS), Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany

  Matthias Wingens, Can Aybek

• AG Migration und Stadtforschung, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany

  Michael Windzio

• , Department of Social Research, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium

  Helga de Valk

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