Social communication networks of migrants in Malta : an analysis based on Bourdieu’s theoretical framework

Abstract

Malta, one of the smallest countries in the European Union, has a rapidly growing population in recent years, with its migrant population accounting for a quarter of the total population. The island country’s limited physical space and high migration rate increase daily encounters between different groups and allow for direct observation of social mobility and communication networks. This research examines the relationship between migrants’ social mobility and the formation of social communication networks by drawing on Bourdieu’s theory of capital and the concept of cleft habitus. Within the scope of the research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty-five migrants; data were collected through participant observation between 2023 and 2025. The obtained data were evaluated using the thematic analysis method. The findings draw attention to the determining role of how migrants’ capital is recognised or transformed in social communication in the post-migration context. The study reveals the relationship between factors such as country of citizenship and duration of residence with social mobility and social communication processes. It is observed that the social networks of non-EU migrants, who experience downward mobility in particular, have narrowed, and this situation reinforces structural inequalities. Furthermore, the study shows that language proficiency alone is insufficient to promote inclusive social communication.