Social remittances: migration driven local-level forms of cultural diffusion

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Migration Studies
• Cultural Anthropology

Background:

• Global culture dissemination is widely studied at the macro-level.
• Social remittances, a micro-level cultural diffusion driven by migration, are increasingly recognized.
• Existing research acknowledges their role in immigrant integration and community development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the transformation of social remittances in receiving countries.
• To identify mechanisms through which social remittances are transmitted back to sending communities.
• To explore the impact of social remittances on social and political life in sending countries.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of data concerning migrants from the Dominican Republic to the Boston area.
• Examination of the remolding of ideas and practices in receiving countries.
• Investigation of transmission mechanisms and impact on sending communities.

Main Results:

• Social remittances are actively reshaped in receiving contexts.
• Specific mechanisms facilitate the return flow of these cultural elements.
• Transformed social remittances significantly influence social and political dynamics in sending communities.

Conclusions:

• Social remittances are a dynamic force in cultural diffusion, not merely passive transfers.
• Understanding the reshaping and transmission of social remittances is crucial for comprehending migration's impact.
• This research offers insights into the micro-level cultural transformations driven by migration, using the Dominican Republic-Boston corridor as a case study.