Work

Against the Odds: On the Arduous Production of Linking Social Capital in Local Refugee Reception

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This article scrutinizes linking social capital formation between informal civil society and local administrations during and after the 2015 European refugee reception crisis. Drawing from 61 semi-structured interviews with members of civil society organizations and local administrations in two German cities, this study documents that the production of linking social capital is by no means guaranteed. Structural power asymmetries and different logics of action between volunteers and local administrative officials regularly create tensions that can serve as relational breaking points. Accepting these inherent tensions and creating platforms to work things out against the odds are essential to produce trustful and responsive relationships.

Source: Administration & Society

DOI: 10.1177/00953997251314509

Authors: Clara van den Berg, Elias Steinhilper, Moritz Sommer

Institutions: WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Freie Universität Berlin, German Center for Integration and Migration Research

Language: English

Topic: Social Capital and Networks

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650