A review of social networks and social capital for volunteering for refugees

Abstract

Volunteering is a prosocial behavior that benefits society in many ways, including refugees. This article reviewed past literature, especially past academic studies by various disciplines in the social sciences on volunteering for refugees, for example by volunteers from non-governmental organizations, that is generally facilitated by social networks. This literature review which is based on a qualitative approach and guided by a deductive research strategy analyzed several themes related to social networks, social capital, and volunteering for refugees that are found in the studies. The review aimed to demonstrate the strengths of the studies as well as identify some theoretical, conceptual, methodological, and empirical research gaps especially lack of sociological study of the empirical nature of social networks and how such nature can become the foundation for social capital for volunteering for refugees, for instance, Syrian refugees. Lack of study is also evident in terms of applying social network theory and utilizing social network analysis as an analytical and methodological tool. The review initially broadly analyzed some past studies on the refugee crisis, then followed by an overview of studies on forms of capital for volunteering and related theories of volunteering, and finally some studies on the role of social networks in volunteering. However, the gaps identified enabled the review to emphasize on the need to acknowledge the importance of close theoretical, conceptual, methodological, empirical, and practical link between social networks and social capital, particularly how social networks can act as social capital and bring benefits to enable the volunteers to help the refugees adjust to life in a new social context. Hence, the review implied its significance as it is able to contribute to new knowledge, namely sociological knowledge, on social networks and social capital for volunteering for refugees, including Syrian refugees, and on improving volunteering by non-governmental organizations and volunteers. Another significant implication is that governments can learn to create better policies regarding refugees and volunteering. Keywords: Non-governmental organizations, refugees, social networks, social capital, volunteering