On heterogeneous and homogeneous networks in a multilayered reality : clashing interests in the ethnic enclave of Lloret de Mar
Valenzuela García, Hugo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Antropologia Social i Cultural)
Molina, José Luis (Molina González) (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Antropologia Social i Cultural)
Lubbers, Miranda J.. (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Antropologia Social i Cultural)
García-Macías, Alejandro (Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (Mèxic))
Pampalona Tarrés, Judith (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Antropologia Social i Cultural)
Lerner, Juergen (University of Konstanz (German). Algorithmic Group)

Date:	2014
Abstract:	Over the last decade, the tourist destination of Lloret de Mar (Gerona, Spain) has experienced an increasing concentration of souvenir stores owned by a population of Indian origin. Although Lloret de Mar is already a multicultural spot, Indians represent a small minority in Spain. In order to explain such a remarkable concentration and economic specialization in a low profit sector, we suggest the emergence of an ethnic enclave based on a triple articulation (entrepreneurs, employees and the local community). Our findings provide support for the mixed-embeddedness hypothesis, which contends that ethnic entrepreneurs in Europe need to rely on both the co-ethnic social networks and the linkages with the host society in order to run their business successfully. However, differential degrees of social integration amongst Indians themselves-clearly shown by the composition of their social networks-and between local dwellers and Indians suggest confronting interests amongst social agents in a highly complex and micro-social touristic site undergoing deep economic crisis. Throughout, a mixed-methods approach in the paper reveals the unequal social structure of the enclave, providing a better theoretical understanding of the difficulties and backgrounds in which minority migrant groups develop and expand their social relationships in the "host society".
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Ethnic enclave ; Social integration ; Local conflict ; Personal networks ; Social ties ; Lloret de Mar ; Transnationalism
Published in:	Societies, Vol. 4, núm. 1 (2014) , p. 85-104, ISSN 2075-4698

DOI: 10.3390/soc4010085

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