IDENTITY CRISES AND SOCIAL CAPITAL: INTEGRATION PATTERNS OF AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The study explores the dynamics of social capital for social identity development and integration of Afghan immigrants in Pakistan. The study also examines the different aspects of Afghan immigrants' social identities, with an emphasis on the difficulties they face in their daily lives based on their lived experiences. Establishing and enhancing a sense of belonging to the host society is crucial for accelerating the integration process. The idea that relationships with natives should promote a sense of belonging and that relationships with in-group members strengthen social identity is supported by a number of theories and works of literature pertaining to contact and group identification. Semi-structured interviews (n=12) were carried out to examine how migrants create and maintain their social identities, and how their perspectives on the difficulties and shifts they encounter in relation to group memberships, and ultimately the impact this has on their social identity development and integration process. These interviews built upon the social identity approach and social capital theory. The results indicate that social identities, which give Afghan immigrants in Pakistan a feeling of direction and belonging, improve resilience and aid in their social integration. For Afghan immigrants to successfully integrate, it is crucial to preserve and create a new social identity, deal with dual-identity issues, and endure discrimination and exclusion even after living there for a year. With broader implications for their identity formation in the new society and integration, the current study adds to and strengthens the literature on social capital and the social identity approach.