Description
Book SynopsisThis timely book offers an integrative and critical approach to the conceptualization of diversity of social ties in contemporary urban migrant populations. It explores the informal relationships of migrants in London and how the construction and the dynamics of their social ties function as a part of urban sociality within the super-diversity of London. Based on the results of a qualitative study of Russian-speaking migrants, it targets the four main themes of transnationalism, ethnicity, cosmopolitanization, and friendship. Acknowledging the complexity of the ways in which contemporary migrants rely on social relationships, the author argues that this complexity cannot be fully grasped by theories of transnationalism or explanations of ethnic communities alone. Instead, one can gather a closer understanding of migrant sociality when adding the analysis of informal relationships in different locations and with different subjects. This book suggests that friendship should be seen as an important concept for all research on migrant social connections.
Trade Review"Drawing on a range of innovative research methods, Migrant Sociality in a Super Diverse City presents an original and empirically compelling picture of the Russian-speaking diaspora in London. This book is a must for European migration scholars."-Dr. Alan Latham, Senior Lecturer, University College London
"This book offers fascinating insights into the experiences of a neglected migrant group in London while also providing careful analysis of the multicultural dynamics of a super-diverse city. Darya Malyutina has opened up a new strand of migration studies"-Dr. Claire Dwyer, Reader in Human Geography, Co-Director of the Migration Research Unit, University College London
"The book challenges those perspectives which claim that common origins and immigrantstatus are a sufficient basis for building relationships in a super-diverse city. Russian-speaking migrants constantly evaluate and negotiate the main threads of their social life and Malyutinas book captures the intricacies of these processes. The reader may feel that there is still room for methodological clarifications; perhaps a sub-section focused on these aspects could be useful. The author succeeds in carrying out the overall purpose of the book and her appealing study adds valuable knowledge about a highly heterogeneous social life in a super-diverse context." Alin Croitoru, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Europe-Asia Studies, 69:7
