Networks of Impact: Leveraging Social Capital and Social Networks for the Social Integration and Well-Being of Immigrants

Dear Colleagues,

The global movement of people is a defining feature of our time, making the successful integration of immigrants a paramount concern for host societies. While a substantial body of research has examined the role of social networks and social capital in this process, a critical gap remains. Often, these studies stop at diagnosis, describing the structure and function of networks without explicitly linking them to tangible, measurable improvements in the well-being of immigrant populations.

This Special Issue of Social Sciences addresses the critical intersection of social networks, social capital, and the social integration of immigrants through the explicit lens of social impact. Guided by the principle that research should lead to a measurable improvement in people's lives, we solicit contributions that go beyond theoretical analysis to demonstrate how social ties are being successfully mobilized or taken into account within programs, policies, or interventions to make a positive change and for the social integration of immigrants.

We welcome the submission of empirical studies (using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods), systematic reviews, and policy analyses that provide evidence of how social networks and social capital have been harnessed to

• Facilitate access to essential services (healthcare, housing, justice);
• Foster sustainable economic integration and combat deskilling;
• Enhance mental health and psychosocial well-being;
• Promote intercultural dialogue and reduce prejudice;
• Empower immigrant communities to participate in civic and political life.

This Special Issue aims to create a seminal collection of work that not only advances academic understanding but also serves as a practical toolkit for creating more effective, evidence-based integration strategies. We are particularly interested in research where to some extent the improvement is co-defined, co-experienced, and co-created by the immigrant communities themselves.

Prof. Dr. Roger Campdepadrós-Cullell
Dr. Mengna Guo
Guest Editors

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