Bonding or bridging? Professional network organizations of second-generation Turks in the Netherlands and France

Abstract

This article analyses network organizations founded by descendants of Turkish migrants in the Netherlands and France. By surveying members of two such organizations and interviewing several of their board members, we learn how these organizations function, their success in building and extending social networks, and their efficacy at improving labour market prospects for young second-generation professionals of Turkish descent. Our findings reveal a hybrid structure, whereby the organizations gear many of their activities towards mainstream society. In comparison to traditional immigrant organizations, their attitude is more open to other social groups, yet they still have a clear stronghold in the ethnic immigrant community. We conclude that ethnicity is not the main element in the successful second generation's organizing process. Factors such as educational trajectories, professional ambitions, feelings of responsibility for other members and newly acquired socioeconomic status are the main reasons for this group to organize.

Youth Transitions among Descendants of Turkish Immigrants in Amsterdam and Strasbourg:

“…Another strand of emerging research examines the "successful" group within the Turkish second generation, thereby emphasizing that the entire group cannot be categorised as disadvantaged (Crul et al 2017;Schneider and Lang 2014;Keskiner and Crul 2017;Vermeulen and Keskiner 2017). Studies pursuing a more qualitative approach have identified the roles of institutional structures in education and the labour market in shaping the upward mobility of descendants of Turkish immigrants (Keskiner and Crul 2017;Konyali 2017).…”

Rethinking the Digital Divide: Smartphones as Translanguaging Tools Among Middle Eastern Refugees in New Jersey

“…; Berg ; Brinkerhoff, ; Everett, ; Gajjala, ; Horst ; Madianou and Miller ; Marino ; McKay ; Miller ; Vertovec ). How scholars have understood the nature of these ties has varied, from highlighting digital media as a force that strengthens and insulates ethnic identities (Christensen and Jansson ; Erickson ; Jansson ) to finding that digital technologies foster integration (Vermeulen and Elif Keskiner ).…”

“…A broad literature has subsequently developed around the role of digital, Internet, and social media tools in maintaining transnational family and friendship ties (Baldassar et al 2016;Berg 2015;Brinkerhoff, 2009;Everett, 2009;Gajjala, 2008;Horst 2006;Madianou and Miller 2012;Marino 2015;McKay 2017;Miller 2017;Vertovec 2004). How scholars have understood the nature of these ties has varied, from highlighting digital media as a force that strengthens and insulates ethnic identities (Christensen and Jansson N u m b e r 2 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 9 2015; Erickson 2007; Jansson 2018) to finding that digital technologies foster integration (Vermeulen and Elif Keskiner 2017).…”

Ethnic-minority climbers: evaluating “minority cultures of mobility” as a lens to study Dutch minority student organizations

“…The activities did not include any activities that explicitly aimed at "giving back" to coethnics, which is an interesting contrast with the American cases. This could be a consequence of the choice to focus on students, who have still very meagre financial positions (Vermeulen and Keskiner 2017).…”