Transnationalism and the Social Mobility of Migrant Workers from the Post Socialist World

Abstract

Since the accession of A8 and A2 member states to the EU in 2004 and 2007, labour mobility across borders has intensified with large numbers of migrant workers seeking economic and social opportunities in member states other than their home country. In particular, it is widely held that the UK is one of the major 'receiving' states for migrant workers from the post-socialist world. Policy directions have been focussed either around encouraging migrant workers to fill labour shortages in the UK or around the integration of migrants into communities and neighbourhoods once they have arrived, using a demand led, responsive approach. The degree of social mobility amongst these migrant workers is not widely discussed, nor is it commonly studied using a transnational frame of reference which sees migrants as maintaining links to their home communities and traditions after they have moved (Basch et al., 1992). Studies on social mobility have tended to be viewed through a national lens, often comparing states and their levels of social mobility (Breen, 2004), but rarely acknowledging the transnational dimension. This overlooks complex social networks across state borders and the important social and cultural capital involved in these exchanges. I posit that transnational networks of migrant workers have a dynamic effect on relative social mobility, whereby notions of class, occupational and social status shift based on interactions between home and host community. Improving knowledge and understanding of these networks could help to inform further policy development around the integration and settlement of migrant workers in the UK, contributing to equality of opportunity and social justice for those often living at the margins of society. This paper will explore the literature around transnational migrant networks and social mobility, providing a review of existing discourse with a hope of stimulating debate around future research directions in transnational migration. It will also provide an overview of current policy debates concerning migration management, considering how far the social mobility of migrants features at a policy level.