Transnational Families in Germany and Sociocultural Integration (TransFam)
Integration Department
Project head: Prof. Dr. Magdalena Nowicka
Project coordination: Dr. David Schiefer
One speaks of transnational families when their members (at least some of them) live apart across national borders, but remain very closely connected socially and emotionally. The DeZIM Institute's feasibility study (2019/20) revealed, among other things, that previous research on transnational families has primarily focused on migration decisions and patterns as well as cross-border practices; the relevance of transnational family systems in terms of integration policy has been far less scientifically investigated than the relevance in terms of migration policy. Similarly, it is not yet clear how common transnational family systems of people with a migration background are in Germany and how relevant subgroups differ here. At the DeZIM Institute, the topic of transnational families in Germany will therefore be studied scientifically in the long term. In 2021/22, the project will first examine the proportion of people with and without a migration background in Germany who have family members abroad and to what extent the family life of these people can be described as transnational. Secondly, the project asks how transnational family relationships are related to the socio-cultural participation of migrants in Germany (e.g. with regard to social networks and social support, care work as well as acculturation orientations and values). It will be examined under which conditions the two are in contradiction, mutually beneficial or exist independently of each other.
Funding: Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Institutional funding)