Residential Multi‐Locality: In Search of Theoretical Frameworks

Abstract

Residential multi-locality is a highly complex social phenomenon. Its explanation requires consideration of most diverse aspects of the social world. On the one hand, this calls for identifying the decision-making processes that make the agents involved choose multi-local living arrangements to achieve their intentions. On the other hand, the socio-economic framework conditions need to be explored that induce people to select residential multi-locality as option to practise the 'good life'. Last but not least, the impact of the material world on the implementation of these arrangements must be considered. To the author's knowledge, a social theory comprising all aspects of residential multi-locality is still lacking. He discusses various conceptual fields that seem appropriate to provide theoretical approaches to the complexity of the phenomenon and that should be related to one another. The author proposes the complementary use of building blocks of theories even though they belong to paradigms considered incommensurable.

Residential Multi‐Locality Studies – The Added Value for Research on Families and Second Homes

“…The complex and multi‐faceted issues of residential multi‐locality studies require interdisciplinary cooperation and the use of variable methodologies (see Weichhart ). The selection of the approaches ranges from rather structuralist to explicitly post‐structuralist approaches (see Weiske et al ).…”

The Logic of Multi‐Local Living Arrangements: Methodological Challenges And the Potential of Qualitative Approaches

“…To spatial we added temporal aspects, as these two dimensions of multi‐local living cannot be thought of as independent of each other. Life in several different locations was described as periodically recurring presences and absences, with their associated rhythms, routines and ritualisations, which are perpetuated in the behaviour of the actors and raise questions about the relationship between agency and structure (Giddens ; Weichhart ).…”

A Residential Perspective on Multi‐Locality: Editorial

“…The argument presented here will be developed further in the contribution by Weichhart (2015) in this special issue.…”

“…In contrast, we intend to show with this special issue that concepts of development research can be employed for the entire range of multi-local forms of living. Weichhart, for example, has proposed to extend the concept of livelihood to all kinds of multi-local life conduct without regard of the actors' geographical and socio-economic situatedness (Weichhart 2015). Yet, we need dimensions of analysis that go beyond this framework and include, for instance, motives and contexts of reasoning because there are other forms of multi-local living that do not evolve within the framework of livelihood strategies.…”