Digital Diaspora and Social Capital

Abstract

The Internet and its applications, such as social media, have revolutionized the way stateless diasporas communicate transnationally. This new virtual, deterritorialized conversation between diasporic individuals contributes to building (digital) social networks which constitute resources and opportunities for diasporas, central to social and geographical mobility. This paper explores the role of the Internet in connecting diasporas without a home nation-state, encouraging subordinated people to participate in civic society and creating a collective source of digital social capital in the diaspora. I argue that the Internet, particularly social media, contributes to the growth of social networks, social capital and the community’s cultural and political participation within and across nation-state borders.

Moldovan diaspora's social networks: political mobilization and participation

“…In this way, individuals have access to resources thanks to their relationships with other individuals, communities, and networks that share some common norms, values, and experiences in a structured field [25,29]. Keles defined it as follows the "social capital refers to the resources (information, knowledge, ideas and various supports) embedded in social networks that individuals procure by virtue of their relationships with other people" [18]. At the same time, Nahapiet and Ghoshal framed the social capital as a set of resources rooted in relationships with three clusters of attributes: structural, relational and cognitive dimensions of social capital, and which, according to the authors, are highly interrelated.…”

“…Some research brings evidence on the positive contribution of the internet in accumulation and increase of social capital [13,16] as well as its role as a catalyst for civic and political participation [10,34]. Diaspora communities, far away from home, establish virtual communities to increases their social capital, and with the socio-political and geographical mobility and the Internet manage to compress time and space, and access multiple online supports [18].…”

“…This finding is in line with the research undergone by Keles. The author argues that the internet "contributes to the growth of social networks, social capital, and the community's cultural and political participation" and it encourages subordinated people to participate in civic society and creates a collective source of social capital in the diaspora [18]. The revolutionary importance of the internet, according to the author, is also rooted in its contribution to building social networks that constitute vital resources and different opportunities for Diasporas.…”

Refugee resettlement, social media and the social organization of difference

“…Within this diversification, the role of social media has attracted substantial attention in relation to how it can influence integration outcomes, the development of social capital, and sustain transnational relationships (Alencar 2017;Marlowe 2018). For instance, Keles's (2016) study of the Kurdish diaspora in the UK determined that, despite predictions of communication technologies eroding political participation and civic engagement, social media increased these activities. This study highlighted the blurred (and blurring of) boundaries between virtual and offline communities that assisted with creating relationships and improving settlement outcomes such as gaining employment and participating in education.…”

Social Support and Stress-Related Acculturative Experiences of an English-speaking Afro-Caribbean Female Student in U.S. Higher Education

“…Some immigrants to the United States construct geographically and politically borderless transnational social networks (Basch, Schiller, & Blanc, 1994;Waldinger & Duquette-Rury, 2016) because of increased global internet capacity and the pervasiveness of social media platforms (Hossain & Veenstra, 2017;Keles, 2016). Social media sites provided a stable mechanism for Michelle to continue these vital relationships.…”