Forms of Social Capital among European Retirement Migrants in the Valencian Community

Resumen

This article analyzes social capital among European pensioners retired in Valencia. The objects of the study are associations and clubs for European retired migrants. We analyzed the self-advertisement of these associations and conducted 18 structured interviews with key informants. In addition, we also conducted a case study of an association whose objective is the improvement of the access to health services.We found a predominance of bonding capital: strong intra-group identityand lack of contact with the host society. We suggest that this transnational social space of retirees causes a fourth form of social capital, linking bonding capital, through the setting of vertical links to strengthen the group, based on the perceptionof a similar identity and trust in power and resource endowments.Tipos de capital social entre los inmigrantes europeos retiradosen la Comunidad ValencianaResumenEste artículo analiza el capital social entre los pensionistas europeos retirados en la Comunidad Valenciana. El objeto de estudio lo constituyen las asociaciones y clubes. Se analizan los espacios publicitarios en los que se dan a conocer y se realizan 18 entrevistas semiestructuradas a informantes clave. Así mismo se lleva a cabo un estudio de caso sobre una asociación cuyo objetivo es mejorar el acceso a los servicios sanitarios.Se evidencia un predominio del capital de refortalecimiento del grupo: fuerte identidad intragrupo y falta de contacto con la sociedad de acogida.Se sugiere que este espacio social transnacional de jubilados provoca una cuarta forma de capital social –el establecimiento de vínculos verticales para reforzar el grupo– basada en la percepción de una identidad similar y la confianza en fuentes de poder y recursos.

Imagen de portada

Palabras clave

• retirement migration
• social capital
• transnationalism
• Valencian community
• Costa Blanca

Cómo citar

Citas

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