弱关系、强关系:墨西哥移民中的网络原则

Weak Ties, Strong Ties: Network Principles in Mexican Migration

移民过程一般是通过亲属网络和社会网络来策划安排的,原来居住于同一社区的移民在目的地的扩散与集聚,基本遵循五条有关移民网络及其动力学的相关原则:第一,网络是多区域性的。第二,移民们在移入目的地找到工作的工作地点构成了移民在当地的落脚点。第三,通向新的目的地的途径常常是通过"弱关系的力量"而得到的。第四,紧密网络和松散的、弱关系的或熟人的网络均构成其成员的"社会资本"。第五,移民在工作地点和工作类型的地理扩散与集聚受紧密关系网络成员(特别是近亲属)招工的影响。

Five network principles are elaborated from literature on Mexican immigrants and from research that I conducted on immigration from a ranchoin Jaliscostate to a variety of destinations within the United States. These principles are, first, that networks are multilocal, encompassing a number of geographical destinations. The importance of destinations, however, may change over time. Second,the anchoring points at any given geographical location are the work sites where immigrants find employment. Thus, labor market conditions structure where immigrants go and where they stay. Third,new geographical locations are often accessed through the 'strength of weak ties,' leading to geographic dispersion. Over time, some weak ties may be converted to strong ties though marriage of compadrazgo.Fourth,both dense networks and diffuse, weak-tie, or acquaintance networks constitute 'social capital' for their members. Fifth,given the geographical dispersion at the work site and/or work type clustering found among immigrants from any particular source community, the latter can best be explained by job recruitment primarily through dense network members, especially close relatives.