Theory of segmented assimilation: a comparative study of Nigerian migrants' integration in KwaZulu Natal province
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article applies the framework of segmented assimilation which analyzes different patterns of migrant integration to understand variations in transnational activities among Nigerian migrants in Durban. It examines the role of migrant integration in determining the types of cross-border activities migrants pursue and their level of engagement in these activities. Given the monetary and legal resources needed to facilitate certain transnational activities, the article reveals that migrants with greater social and economic mobility in the host country demonstrate a wider range and an increased frequency of transnational behaviours. For instance, Nigerian migrants having legal migration status and occupational mobility demonstrate greater transnational behaviours than those illegally residing in South Africa and employed in low-wage menial jobs. It further, examines how South Africa's migration policies and the social context of reception affect the integration of migrants in their transnational activities.
DOI: 10.14749/32387979
Author: Human Sciences Research Council
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: green
Funder: Human Sciences Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W7162194828
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