Transatlantic migrations and globalization: Brazilians in Portuguese lands and the power of social networks

The aim of this paper is to contextualised Latin American migration to Portugal, which presents features of different migratory systems (Iberian, Latin American and Lusophone) using the case of Brazilians as example. The study case reveals, on one hand, the complex relations between Brazil and Portugal as a consequence of the old colonial past and several waves of migration in both directions, and friendship and blood ties from past migrations; and on the other hand, the influence and modus operandi of migrants’ social networks, by using a multisited ethnography at origin and destination. The analysis of the fluxes and their insertion in the labour markets and the analysis of the social networks allow approaching the double context of migrations, illustrating its role in the integration of Brazilians in the host society. The focus on the social networks includes several aspects such as their informality/formality, gender differences, and ways of solidarity and reciprocity.