Reconceptualising the Migrant: The Non-Binary Nature of Sociocultural Identities and Interactions (Studies in Migration and Diaspora)

This book highlights the impact of migrant self-narratives and the non-binary nature of sociocultural identities on everyday social interactions, demonstrating how meaningful relationships emerge not from predetermined social categories, but through shared experiences, common interests, and everyday encounters. Migration has traditionally been understood through fixed categories such as nationality, ethnicity, religion, and culture, with integration often conceptualised as a process through which migrants adapt to established societies.Drawing on qualitative research conducted across six European countries, the book develops the concepts of self-narrative-induced interactions and joint belongingness to explain how migrants and members of established societies negotiate difference and develop more inclusive forms of belonging.By examining volunteering, sports, arts, and community-based activities, it shows how everyday environments create opportunities for interaction, mutual recognitio