HARNESSING SOCIAL CAPITAL THROUGH SPORT - EXPLORING THE ROLE OF FOOTBALL IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS IN SWEDEN

Συγγραφείς

  • Comfort Ankunda University of Gothenburg, Sweden
  • Robert Menge University of Gothenburg, Sweden
  • Lambert Buzaare Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v8i4.1412

Λέξεις-κλειδιά:

African migrants, socio-economic integration, social capital, sports

Περίληψη

Integration ought to be a two-way process, requiring adjustments from both migrants and native residents. However, more adaptation is often required of and indeed achieved by the migrants than host communities. Fortunately, participation avenues such as sports offer opportunities for these migrants to interact with and learn from host communities. This study, therefore, explored how African migrants utilize football to create social relations and develop the social capital necessary for their integration in Gothenburg, Sweden. The study employed a qualitative methodology, specifically semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted digitally. Ten adult African migrants living in Gothenburg were interviewed and data was analyzed thematically. The Social capital theory and the Conceptual framework for understanding migrant integration formed the theoretical and analytical framework. Football was revealed as a powerful tool for socio-economic integration, especially since it facilitated migrants’ building of reliable social connections in their host communities.

 

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Βιογραφικά Συγγραφέων

  • Comfort Ankunda, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

    Comfort Ankunda, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Comfort has an Erasmus Mundus European Master in Social Work with Families and Children awarded by the University of Stavanger in Norway, the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and other partners. She is currently working as a freelance researcher, especially collaborating with professors from Makerere University, Kampala and the University of Gothenburg. Comfort is interested in migration and integration, mental health, social issues within sports, child protection and participation and community-driven development. Email: comfortankunda2@gmail.com

  • Robert Menge, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

    Robert Menge, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Robert Menge is a recent graduate at University of Gothenburg, Sweden with an Erasmus Mundus European Master in Social Work with Families and Children. His research interests include mental health, HIV/AIDs, community development and participation, sexual and reproductive health, children and families, and international studies. Email: robzrobertmenge@gmail.com

  • Lambert Buzaare, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

    Lambert Buzaare, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Lambert holds the Erasmus Mundus Master of Social Work with Families and Children from the University of Stavanger and its consortium partners. He is currently working as a Research Assistant in the Department of social work and social Administration at Makerere University Kampala Uganda. His major research interests include; Children, youths and families, community development, international social work, immigrants and refugees. Email: lambertdraker@gmail.com 

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Λήψεις

Δημοσιευμένα

2023-01-23

Τεύχος

Τόμ. 8 Αρ. 4 (2023)

Ενότητα

Articles