Sociology Seminar 
Time: 12:00 pm – 13:30 pm
Date: 11th of june
Room : 3049

Thomas SOEHL (McGill University)  – “The fragility of bridging ties: Evidence from refugee sponsorship”

Abstract : 

Friendships that cross the immigrant versus native-born divide play a central role in theories of immigrant assimilation. They provide access to resources and are a central aspect of what is often called structural assimilation. Whereas theoretical accounts generally take the formation of these ties to unfold gradually and following assimilation in other domains, we examine a case where refugee sponsorship provides social connections right upon arrival before significant integration in other domains. Our analysis of a longitudinal survey of Syrian refugees in Canada shows that when refugee sponsorship bridges large social distances – the “sponsorship of strangers” – it leads to larger and more diverse friendship networks. But these additional friendship ties are fragile and quickly dissolve. Although we focus on the case of refugee sponsorship, our results speak to broader questions about the stability of cross-ethnic ties and the ability of policy interventions to durably affect social contexts.

Organizers:
Paola TUBARO (Pôle sociologie CREST)

Nicolas JULIA (Pôle sociologie CREST)

Patrick PRÄG (Pôle sociologie CREST)

Sponsors:
CREST