Over the last four decades the sociological life course approach with its focus on the interplay of structure and agency over time life course perspective has become an important research perspective in the social sciences. Yet, while it has successfully been applied to almost all fields of social inquiry it is much less used in research studying migrant populations and their integration patterns. This is puzzling since understanding immigrants' integration requires just the kind of dynamic research approach this approach puts forward: any integration theory actually refers to life course processes. This volume shows fruitful cross-linkages between the two research traditions.

A range of studies are presented that all apply sociological life course concepts to research on migrants and migrant groups in Europe. The book is organized thematically, indicating different important domains in the life course. Using a wide variety of methodological approaches, it covers both quantitative studies based on population census data and survey material as well as qualitative studies based on interviews. Attention is paid to the life courses of those who migrated themselves as well as their offspring. The studies cover different European countries, relating to one national context or a particular local setting in a city as well as cross-country comparisons. Overall the book shows that applying the sociological life course approach to migration and integration research may advance our understanding of immigrant settlement patterns as well as further develop the life course perspective

Over the last four decades the sociological life course approach with its focus on the interplay of structure and agency over time life course perspective has become an important research perspective in the social sciences. Yet, while it has successfully been applied to almost all fields of social inquiry it is much less used in research studying migrant populations and their integration patterns. This is puzzling since understanding immigrants' integration requires just the kind of dynamic research approach this approach puts forward: any integration theory actually refers to life course processes. This volume shows fruitful cross-linkages between the two research traditions. A range of studies are presented that all apply sociological life course concepts to research on migrants and migrant groups in Europe. The book is organized thematically, indicating different important domains in the life course. Using a wide variety of methodological approaches, it covers both quantitative studies based on population census data and survey material as well as qualitative studies based on interviews. Attention is paid to the life courses of those who migrated themselves as well as their offspring. The studies cover different European countries, relating to one national context or a particular local setting in a city as well as cross-country comparisons. Overall the book shows that applying the sociological life course approach to migration and integration research may advance our understanding of immigrant settlement patterns as well as further develop the life course perspective

This introductory book provides an insight into sociological life course research and informs about its theoretical assumptions, analytical concepts and main results. Sociological life course research - like biographical research - has developed into an independent and fruitful field of research since the end of the 1960s. It is true that half a century earlier, in their famous study of "The Polish Peasant in Europe and America" (1918-20), Thomas and Znaniecki had already used life records to examine the connection between social change, social structures, and the life histories of individuals. However, such a research perspective was supplanted by other methodological-conceptual approaches to empirical social research for over fifty years. It was not until the 1960s that sociological interest in life course and biographical theoretical issues reawakened. Today, life course research is considered one of the most important conceptual innovations in sociology in recent decades. The content The life course as a social construction - What is "life course research"? - The life course as an institution - Collective life courses: generations, cohorts and social change - Structures of the life course - Life course research - a conceptual perspective - Life course research, quo vadis? The author Prof. Dr. Matthias Wingens teaches sociology at the University of Bremen, Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS).

Wie beeinflusst die Wende das Leben der Menschen in Ostdeutschland bis heute? Die Autoren untersuchen, wie junge Erwachsene auf die Probleme des Systembruchs reagiert haben und als "Generation der Wende" seither die ostdeutsche Gesellschaft verandern. Der Band zeigt Veranderungen von Erwerbsverlaufen, von Mustern der Familiengrundung und der sozialen Mobilitat. Er geht der Frage nach, wie sich in Betrieben neue Generationsstrukturen bilden, wie erfolgreich Arbeitsmarktpolitik ist, und pruft, welche Mentalitatsveranderungen der Transformationsprozess nach sich zieht. Grundlage der Studie sind die Langsschnittdaten der "Berufsverlaufsstudie Ostdeutschland" des Sfb 186, biographische Interviews und Expertengesprache.

Der Autor entwickelt die These, dass die Industrialisierung der Wissenschaft das funktionale Korrelat einer Verwissenschaftlichung der Industrie ist und dass diese beiden Phanomene zwei nur analytisch zu trennende Momente desselben gesellschaftlichen Prozesses darstellen.

Die in diesem Band versammelten Beitrage untersuchen die sozialen Beziehungen von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Migrationshintergrund. Zumeist werden netzwerkanalytische Methoden verwendet, mit denen unterschiedliche Formen und Grade der Integration operationalisierbar sind. Die Beitrage basieren uberwiegend auf Daten des an der Universitat Bremen angesiedelten DFG-Projektes Integration durch Freundschaft? Dynamiken sozialer Assimilation von Kindern aus Migrantenfamilien in multiplexen Peernetzwerken ."