Unveiling the landscape: exploring the nexus of international migration and social networks

A deep understanding of how migration unfolds is essential for developing policies that ensure safer migration journeys, enhance migrant well-being and societal inclusion, and maintain societal cohesion and prosperity in sending and receiving countries. However, such an understanding requires profound knowledge of the social dimensions of migration. While scholars have long recognized the networked nature of migration, the application of network methods in migration studies is more recent but rapidly growing. This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of current research at the intersection of social networks and international migration, making it an invaluable resource for students, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. This introductory chapter defines key concepts—international migration and social networks—and traces the evolution of research in this area. With this foundation, we present the book's comprehensive structure for exploring the multifaceted relationship between migration and social networks.