THE SOCIAL ANCHORS AND SOCIAL CAPITAL PERSPECTIVES OF EXPLAINING ALBANIAN IMMIGRANT’S PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION IN GERMANY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2478/subbs-2024-0008Keywords:
social anchors, social capital, integration, Albanian immigrants, challengesAbstract
This paper explores the process of social integration of Albanian immigrants in Germany using a quality approach, based on literature review and in-depth interviews. Drawing on sociological concepts of social anchor and social capital, the study analyzes the challenges and opportunities migrants face during this process. Through the cross-thematic analysis it is found that the migrant interviewed resulted to experience difficulties in getting ties with German natives or even to keep strong networks with Albanians. Regarding literature review, this means they have built weak social capital and social anchors, that produces difficulties in their economic, socio-cultural and legal integration process. Among the strongest challenges of integration were language barriers, the process of equipping curricula, cultural gap between Albania and Germany, high level of bureaucracy in institutions and non-participation of migrants in organized Albanian or German groups. While opportunities that facilitate integration resulted in support from Albanian employment networks, social ties with other communities for economic and social growth, high levels of trust in German institutions and meritocracy, German pro-migrant state policy and opportunities for inclusion in the education system or vocational training and lack of perceived discrimination regarding their ethnic origin. They mainly experienced discrimination due to the perception of Albanian immigrants as poor non-European immigrants, hot-blooded Balkans or Eastern Muslims. The findings show that social connections, community support and integration policy play an essential role in the success of integration.
References
1. Bottia Cecilia, Martha (2019). Immigrant Integration and Immigrant Segregation: The Relationship Between School and Housing Segregation and Immigrants’ Futures in the U.S. Poverty & Race Research Action Council. JSTOR, 5-8. (i.e. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/resrep27199.5.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A86224771b8a16aff795f5e5d942977a5&ab_segments=&initiator=recommender&acceptTC=1, 12/03/2025)
2. Brissette, Ian, Cohen, Sheldon and Seeman, Teresa E. (2000). Measuring social integration and social networks. In S. Cohen, L. Underwood, and B. Gottlieb (eds.) Social support measurement and intervention. New York: Oxford Press, pp. 53-85. (i.e. https://academic.oup.com/book/1041/chapter-abstract/137956005?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false, 12/03/2025)
3. Clopton W, Aaron (2011). Re-conceptualizing social anchors in community development: Utilizing social anchor theory to create social capital’s third dimension. Journal of the Community Development Society, 42 (1): 70-83. (i.e. file:///C:/Users/Dell/Downloads/SocialAnchors_CommunityDevelopment421.pdf, 04/03/2025)
4. Contucci, Pierluigi and Sandell Rickard (2015). How integrated are immigrants? Demographic Research. 33 (46): 1271-1280. (i.e. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26332023.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A03856fa7f8ad3659e03378f771511e81&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&initiator=&acceptTC=1, 3/02/2025)
5. Council of Europe (1997). Measurement and Indicators of Integration. Council of Europe Publishing. (i.e. https://www.coe.int/t/dg3/migration/archives/documentation/Series_Community_Relations/Measurement_indicators_integration_en.pdf, 11.3.2025).
6. Dahinden, Janine (2011). Cities, Migrant Incorporation and Ethnicity: A Network Perspective on Boundary Work. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 14 (1): 39-60. (i.e. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242113720_Cities_Migrant_Incorporation_and_Ethnicity_A_Network_Perspective_on_Boundary_Work?enrichId=rgreq-8b9e6b246cbcbd42c14b15729fbe3201-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI0MjExMzcyMDtBUzoxMDIxODY2NTA0Mzk2ODRAMTQwMTM3NDYwNDY0OA%3D%3D&el=1_x_2&_esc=publicationCoverPdf, 01/03/2025)
7. Dasgupta, Partha and Serageldin, Ismail (1999). Social Capital: A multifaceted perspective. Washington, D.C: The World Bank (i.e. file:///C:/Users/Dell/Downloads/Social_Capital_World_Bank_1999.pdf, 25/02/2025)
8. Dijkstra, Steven, Geuijen, Karin and Ruijter, Arie de. (2001). Multiculturalism and social integration in Europe. International Political Science Review. 22 (1): 55-84. (i.e. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1601285?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents, 22/02/2025).
9. Durkheim, Emile (1951). Suicide. New York: Free Press. (i.e. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203994320/suicide-emile-durkheim, 5/01/2025)
10. Durkheim, Emile (2014). The Division of Labor in Society. New York: Macmillan Publisher. (i.e. https://www.google.al/books/edition/The_Division_of_Labor_in_Society/NhLgAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=subject:%22Division+of+labor%22&printsec=frontcover, 12/03/2025)
11. Engbersen, Godfried (2018). Liquid migration and its consequences for local integration policies. In P. Scholten, M. V. Ostaijen (eds.) Between Mobility and Migration. Rotterdam: Springer Open, pp.63-76.
12. Esser, Hartmut (2006). Migration, language and integration. Programme on Intercultural Conflicts and Societal Integration. Berlin: Social Science Research Center Berlin. (i.e. https://bibliothek.wzb.eu/pdf/2006/iv06-akibilanz4b.pdf, 12/03/2025)
13. Germany Action Plan on Integration (2012) (i.e. https://polen.diplo.de/resource/blob/485830/b3bada7b7614c18bb869326b0bef63aa/integration-nap-eng-data.pdf, 12/03/2025)
14. Germany National Integration Plan (2007) (i.e. https://www.bundesregierung.de/resource/blob/2065474/441038/7bd84041e5fe27490dd06b45cec7db75/2007-08-30-nationaler-integrationsplan-data.pdf?download=1, 12/03/2025)
15. Grzymala-Kazlowska, Aleksandra (2013). From identity and integration to social anchoring-proposal of a new theoretical concept. In European Commission Website on Integration (i.e. https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/library-document/identity-and-integration-social-anchoring-proposal-new-theoretical-concept_en, 04/03/2025)
16. Grzymala-Kazlowska, Aleksandra (2016). Social Anchoring: Immigrant Identity, Security and Integration Reconnected? Sociology, 50 (6): 1123–1139. (i.e. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26556412?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents, 03/03/2025).
17. INSTAT (2020). The Diaspora of Albania in numbers. (i.e. http://www.instat.gov.al/media/7848/diaspora-ne-shifra-2020.pdf, 12/01/2014).
18. Integral Human Development (2023). Migration Profile: Albania. Migrants Refugees. Vatican City (i.e. https://migrants-refugees.va/it/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/2023-CP-Albania.pdf, 27/01/2025)
19. Lucassen, Leo, Feldman, David and Oltmer, Jochen (2006). Immigrant Integration in Western Europe, Then and Now. Paths of Integration: Migrants in Western Europe (1880-2004). IMISCOE Research: Amsterdam University Press. pp. 7-24. (i.e. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt45kdns.3?searchText=social+integration&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dsocial%2Bintegration%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Acad92b26b62ed8b4cb4169c507c03729&seq=4, 2/02/2025)
20. Marcus, Andrew (2011). Attitudes to multiculturalism and cultural diversity. In M. Clyne and J. Jupp (eds.). Multiculturalism and integration. Australia: Anu Press, pp. 89-100.
21. Matvyeyeva, Nataliya (2021). What is the impact of transnational activities on integration of migrants. Case study: Albanian diaspora in Germany. Salzburg: Faculty of Cultural and Social Sciences of the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg. (i.e. https://eplus.uni-salzburg.at/obvusbhs/content/titleinfo/7601658/full.pdf, 17/02/2025)
22. Ochiai, Hitoshi (2015). The Coleman’s Boat: the mikro-makro link. In Riron to Hoho (eds.) Sociological Theory and Methods. (i.e. file:///C:/Users/Dell/Downloads/TheColemanBoatandtheMacro-MicroLink%20(1).pdf, 17/02/2025)
23. OECD and European Commission (2023). Indicators of Immigrant Integration. Paris: OECD Publishing. (i.e. file:///C:/Users/Dell/Downloads/1d5020a6-en%20(4).pdf, 15/01/2025)
24. Philip, Manow (2004). Federalism and the welfare state: The German case. ZeS-Arbeitspapier, 8: 5-45. (i.e. https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/41493/1/559063849.pdf, 13/03/2025)
25. Pirchio, Sabine, Costa, Sara and Ferri, Rosa (2020). Language and social integration in multicultural contexts. Flight and migration from Africa to Europe: Contribution of psychology and social work. 1 (6): pp. 105-116. (i.e. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/61412/9783847414797.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y, 15/03/2025)
26. Pooley, Colin and Whyte, Ian D. (2021). Migrants, Emigrants and Immigrants: A social history of Migration. New York: Routledge Revivals. (first publishing 1991).
27. Portes, Alejandro Portes and Zhou, Min Zhou (1993). The new second generation: Segmented Assimilation and Its Variants. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences. 530: 74-96. (i.e. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1047678?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents, 12/03/2025)
28. Scholten, Peter (2011). Framing Immigrant Integration. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.
29. United Nations (2015). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York. (i.e. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda%20for%20Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf?_gl=1*oybdq7*_ga*MTUxODIzODA5NC4xNzQwNDc0NjE1*_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z*MTc0MDQ3NDYxNS4xLjAuMTc0MDQ3NDYxNS4wLjAuMA, 15/12/2024)
30. Triandafyllidou, Anna (2016). Irregular migration in Europe. London and New York: Routledge Taylor&Francis Group.
31. Wasmer, Martina (2013). Public debates and public opinion on multiculturalism in Germany. In R. Taras (eds.) Challenging multiculturalism. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press Ltd, pp. 163-189. (i.e. https://www.google.al/books/edition/Challenging_Multiculturalism/aT6rBgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover, 13/03/2025)
32. Ylikoski, Petri (2021). Understanding the Coleman Boat. In G. Manzo and E. Elgar (eds.) Research handbook on analytical sociology. Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 49-63. (i.e. https://tuhat.helsinki.fi/ws/files/171684239/Understanding_the_Coleman_boat_2021.pdf, 17/02/2025)
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Sociologia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
