Alireza Behtoui | Stockholm University (original) (raw)
Papers by Alireza Behtoui
Sociologisk Forskning
The "stranger" among Swedish "Homo Academicvs" This paper is about individuals with immigrant bac... more The "stranger" among Swedish "Homo Academicvs" This paper is about individuals with immigrant background among the Swedish academic elite, i.e. those who have a PhD and work at Swedish universities. The aim of the study is to understand how factors other than academic qualifications, such as gender and a migrant background, may impact on the individual's ability to get a job and pursue a successful career in Swedish higher education. The data used for this study is obtained from the Longitudinal Database of Education, Income and Occupation (LISA) administered by Statistics Sweden. When compared to the reference group (individuals born in Sweden with at least one Swedishborn parent), the results show that given the same work experience individuals born in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America are more likely to be unemployed. Among those who have a job, those with immigrant background have lower income (lower position) than the reference group.
Sociologisk Forskning
Partikandidater med migrationsbakgrund vid svenska valet 2014 1 Ethnic hierarchies and (non)repre... more Partikandidater med migrationsbakgrund vid svenska valet 2014 1 Ethnic hierarchies and (non)representation. Party candidates with migration background in the general election of 2014. This paper analyses the extent to which individuals with migration background were appointed and elected into different levels of public decision-making bodies in the latest Swedish general election (2014). Individuals of "migration background" refers in this study to those born abroad or born in Sweden with two foreign-born parents. Data for this study is taken from Statistics Sweden's register of candidates elected in municipal, county and national parliamentary elections in 2014, supplemented by information from other Statistics Sweden's registers. The results demonstrate that: (a) individuals with a migration background are severely underrepresented in the Swedish decision-making bodies; (b) even in cases when individuals with a migration background are nominated on the party lists, they have less of a chance of being elected compared to native candidates. (c) The dominant "resource theory" cannot explain the underrepresentation of the stigmatized migrant groups and their descendants, and finally; (d) the results indicate some support to the hypothesis about the importance of access to social networks in order to be nominated and elected.
I Ungdomars fritidsaktiviteter studeras fritidsaktiviteter och dess betydelse for ungdomar. Vilka... more I Ungdomars fritidsaktiviteter studeras fritidsaktiviteter och dess betydelse for ungdomar. Vilka ar engagerade i fritidsaktiviteter och vilka ar det inte? Forstarker aktiviteterna skillnader mella ...
Ethnic hierarchies and (non)representation. Party candidates with migration background in the gen... more Ethnic hierarchies and (non)representation. Party candidates with migration background in the general election of 2014.This paper analyses the extent to which individuals with migration background ...
Karriar pa spel : Socialt kapital och karriarer for disputerade migranter i den svenska hogskolan
The Integration of Descendants of Migrants from Turkey in Stockholm, 2015
The Integration of Descendants of Migrants from Turkey in Stockholm, 2015
The Integration of Descendants of Migrants from Turkey in Stockholm, 2015
Social Sciences, 2020
The aim of this study is to explore whether and how school-based social capital (SSC) may increas... more The aim of this study is to explore whether and how school-based social capital (SSC) may increase or reduce inequalities in the academic achievement and well-being of students from different backgrounds (class, gender, and ethnicity). SSC here refers to those qualities of social relationships and the degree of interconnectedness between students, teachers, and parents that can support the educational attainment and social adjustment of young people. As the results of our ethnographic studies indicate, there is a significant association between SSC and school composition—i.e., the class and ethnic background of students in a school. The association indicates the stratification effect of social capital in schools as a predominant pattern. In a school with students from higher socio-economic backgrounds, we observed more qualified and motivated teachers, an intensive parental involvement, and, consequently, more constructive and friendly relationships among students. In contrast, in a...
Nordic Journal of Migration Research, 2020
In this article, we study whether social capital contributes to ethnic inequality in education or... more In this article, we study whether social capital contributes to ethnic inequality in education or whether there is evidence of counter-stratification. We use data from three surveys of Swedish ninth-graders in different contexts to fit regression models for access to social capital and educational returns. Our results show that students with parents from Asia or Southeast Europe had equal or better access to social capital, compared to children with at least one parent born in Sweden. Results for children with African background were mixed. Regarding educational outcomes, we found similar rates of returns from social capital across groups. Better access to social capital thus seems to buffer against disadvantages for some, but not all, groups.
Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2020
Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study investigates inequalities in occupational ... more Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study investigates inequalities in occupational status and wages between native-born and foreign-born employees in elderly care institutions in Sweden. It finds that employees from Africa, Asia and Latin Americathe "Global South"are disadvantaged in both respects. Combinatory explanations of the inequalities are needed. The shorter work experience of foreign-born workers in the care sector plus the lesser value given to educational credentials obtained outside Sweden are among the factors related to human capital theory. Access to less-valuable resources in the workplace social networks of foreign-born employees is related to social capital theory. The processes that result in exclusion from powerful social networks, in turn, are found to be affected by discrimination in the workplace.
Identities, 2019
This paper is about self-identification by a sample of young people with various migrant backgrou... more This paper is about self-identification by a sample of young people with various migrant backgrounds in Sweden. In a survey we asked them how they present themselves to others in different contexts (in their schools and neighbourhoods or when they are out of Sweden). Our findings suggest that young people's identification is not fixed. The paths to these various forms of identification are shaped by a variety of individual (class background, parents' country of origin) and social factors (friendship networks and school composition). The results indicate that those who identified themselves as Swedish or hyphenated tended to be quite similar as regards their other characteristics, while those who presented themselves with the parents' birth country or religious affiliation have very little in common.
Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 2010
The purpose of this study is (a) to depict the general pattern of partnership of immigrants and t... more The purpose of this study is (a) to depict the general pattern of partnership of immigrants and their children in Sweden and their position in the Swedish “marriage market” relative to that of natives; (b) to estimate probability of out-marriage of individuals from different immigrant groups with natives; and (c) to examine ‘exchange theory’ in relation to partnerships between immigrants and natives. Using a register data-set provided by Statistics Sweden, I find that individuals in this sample tend to choose men and women who are like themselves in socio-economic background, income, educational level, and position in the labour market. Regarding “immigrant background,” the results indicate a tendency towards “ethnic endogamy.” Results also show that men and women with origins in countries outside northwest Europe and North America (ONW) have a lower probability of having a native partner than others. Empirical results also provide some support for “exchange theory,” that is, member...
Higher Education, 2018
This article deals with individuals of immigrant background in Swedish higher education-i.e., tho... more This article deals with individuals of immigrant background in Swedish higher education-i.e., those who have a PhD and work in Swedish universities. The aim of the study is to examine whether and how factors other than academic qualifications-such as gender and migrant background-may affect the individual's ability to find employment and pursue a successful career in a Swedish institution of higher education. The data used in the first section are Swedish registry data (LISA database and population), administered by Statistics Sweden. The second part of the paper is based on semi-structured interviews with 19 academics of migrant background. The results show that, given the same work experience and compared to the reference group (born in Sweden with at least one Swedish-born parent), individuals born in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America are, firstly, more likely to be unemployed and, secondly, if they are employed, to have a lower income (lower position). The ways in which such gaps arises are also examined.
British Journal of Sociology of Education, 2019
Recent research demonstrates that, along with the family, the peer group and the school environme... more Recent research demonstrates that, along with the family, the peer group and the school environment, extra-curricular activities are important contexts for young people's educational and social development. This article is the result of a survey conducted with a sample of young people in their last year of compulsory school in Sweden and examines both who has access to the different types of extra-curricular activity and the consequences of their participation in the various programmes. As the results indicate, after controlling for respondents' class and migrant background, their gender and their health, there are positive and significant associations between participation in certain types of activity (sporting, cultural and religious) on the one hand, and students' school performance and educational expectations on the other. However, attendance at a less-organised activity (youth recreation centres or fritidsgård) shows a negative association with these outcomes. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the gender, social class and migrant background of students affect their rate of participation in many of these activities.
Work, Employment and Society, 2016
When encountering problems and dissatisfaction in the workplace, employees may choose between thr... more When encountering problems and dissatisfaction in the workplace, employees may choose between three strategies: voice; exit; or silence. Using survey data and interview material from a study of employees in an elderly care organization in Sweden, this article investigates the workers’ perceptions of the eligibility and prospects of these strategies and which individual characteristics and situational factors might affect them. The focus is on racialized workers (operationalized through their region of birth) who, according to earlier studies, are less likely than other employees to choose voice behaviour. Contrary to some earlier studies, the results here attribute such a propensity to the importance of power differences across ‘racial hierarchies’ rather than to differences in cultural values. Individuals in this (racialized) category have a lower occupational status, earn less and experience less favourable relationships with their managers.
This survey and book is the product of cooperation between researchers at the Centre for Research... more This survey and book is the product of cooperation between researchers at the Centre for Research in International Migration and Ethnic Relations at Stockholm University (CEIFO). We are indebted to our international colleagues within the TIES research network for their collaboration at all stages of the research process: formulating research questions, devising the questionnaire, analysing data and commenting on draft versions of the report. This fruitful cooperation has led to new and exciting research questions concerning the social inclusion of the descendants of migrants. Colleagues at CEIFO participated actively at different stages of the process. We would like to thank Professor Orlando Mella and Dr. Ebba Hedlund for their input during the early stages of the process. Dr. Ali Osman was involved at the later stage of analysis and we would also like to thank him for his contribution. While writing this book, the authors of the different chapters benefited from the knowledge and assistance of senior researchers at CEIFO. We would particularly like to thank Professor Erik Olsson and Professor Per Lundborg for their invaluable critique and suggestions with regard to the various chapters in this book. Our very special thanks go to Associate Professor Lena Schröder, who participated as an external member of the research team and wrote a chapter for the book. The project was financed by The Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, for whose support we sincerely express our deep gratitude.
Journal of Sociology, 2016
This study makes use of a dataset which contains material relating to young Swedish people who ha... more This study makes use of a dataset which contains material relating to young Swedish people who have recently completed their studies and started working. It explores whether using social networks as such or using individuals’ resources which are accessible through social networks (social capital) provides relative advantages in the competition for better jobs. Interest in this topic stems from the recent development of sociological theories in this field. The results indicate that the use of social ties is a common way to find a job in the highly regulated Swedish labour market, but that informal recruitment methods per se provide no relative advantages in the competition for better jobs. On the other hand, given the same demographic characteristics, socioeconomic background and educational attainments, there is a positive association between resources embedded in an individual’s social network (social capital) and the quality of the jobs obtained.
Unga migranters studiebenagenhet : Rapport fran projektet Transnationella utbildningskarriarer: S... more Unga migranters studiebenagenhet : Rapport fran projektet Transnationella utbildningskarriarer: Studieval, mojlighetshorisont och sociala natverk for unga med utlandsk anknytning
Sociologisk Forskning
The "stranger" among Swedish "Homo Academicvs" This paper is about individuals with immigrant bac... more The "stranger" among Swedish "Homo Academicvs" This paper is about individuals with immigrant background among the Swedish academic elite, i.e. those who have a PhD and work at Swedish universities. The aim of the study is to understand how factors other than academic qualifications, such as gender and a migrant background, may impact on the individual's ability to get a job and pursue a successful career in Swedish higher education. The data used for this study is obtained from the Longitudinal Database of Education, Income and Occupation (LISA) administered by Statistics Sweden. When compared to the reference group (individuals born in Sweden with at least one Swedishborn parent), the results show that given the same work experience individuals born in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America are more likely to be unemployed. Among those who have a job, those with immigrant background have lower income (lower position) than the reference group.
Sociologisk Forskning
Partikandidater med migrationsbakgrund vid svenska valet 2014 1 Ethnic hierarchies and (non)repre... more Partikandidater med migrationsbakgrund vid svenska valet 2014 1 Ethnic hierarchies and (non)representation. Party candidates with migration background in the general election of 2014. This paper analyses the extent to which individuals with migration background were appointed and elected into different levels of public decision-making bodies in the latest Swedish general election (2014). Individuals of "migration background" refers in this study to those born abroad or born in Sweden with two foreign-born parents. Data for this study is taken from Statistics Sweden's register of candidates elected in municipal, county and national parliamentary elections in 2014, supplemented by information from other Statistics Sweden's registers. The results demonstrate that: (a) individuals with a migration background are severely underrepresented in the Swedish decision-making bodies; (b) even in cases when individuals with a migration background are nominated on the party lists, they have less of a chance of being elected compared to native candidates. (c) The dominant "resource theory" cannot explain the underrepresentation of the stigmatized migrant groups and their descendants, and finally; (d) the results indicate some support to the hypothesis about the importance of access to social networks in order to be nominated and elected.
I Ungdomars fritidsaktiviteter studeras fritidsaktiviteter och dess betydelse for ungdomar. Vilka... more I Ungdomars fritidsaktiviteter studeras fritidsaktiviteter och dess betydelse for ungdomar. Vilka ar engagerade i fritidsaktiviteter och vilka ar det inte? Forstarker aktiviteterna skillnader mella ...
Ethnic hierarchies and (non)representation. Party candidates with migration background in the gen... more Ethnic hierarchies and (non)representation. Party candidates with migration background in the general election of 2014.This paper analyses the extent to which individuals with migration background ...
Karriar pa spel : Socialt kapital och karriarer for disputerade migranter i den svenska hogskolan
The Integration of Descendants of Migrants from Turkey in Stockholm, 2015
The Integration of Descendants of Migrants from Turkey in Stockholm, 2015
The Integration of Descendants of Migrants from Turkey in Stockholm, 2015
Social Sciences, 2020
The aim of this study is to explore whether and how school-based social capital (SSC) may increas... more The aim of this study is to explore whether and how school-based social capital (SSC) may increase or reduce inequalities in the academic achievement and well-being of students from different backgrounds (class, gender, and ethnicity). SSC here refers to those qualities of social relationships and the degree of interconnectedness between students, teachers, and parents that can support the educational attainment and social adjustment of young people. As the results of our ethnographic studies indicate, there is a significant association between SSC and school composition—i.e., the class and ethnic background of students in a school. The association indicates the stratification effect of social capital in schools as a predominant pattern. In a school with students from higher socio-economic backgrounds, we observed more qualified and motivated teachers, an intensive parental involvement, and, consequently, more constructive and friendly relationships among students. In contrast, in a...
Nordic Journal of Migration Research, 2020
In this article, we study whether social capital contributes to ethnic inequality in education or... more In this article, we study whether social capital contributes to ethnic inequality in education or whether there is evidence of counter-stratification. We use data from three surveys of Swedish ninth-graders in different contexts to fit regression models for access to social capital and educational returns. Our results show that students with parents from Asia or Southeast Europe had equal or better access to social capital, compared to children with at least one parent born in Sweden. Results for children with African background were mixed. Regarding educational outcomes, we found similar rates of returns from social capital across groups. Better access to social capital thus seems to buffer against disadvantages for some, but not all, groups.
Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2020
Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study investigates inequalities in occupational ... more Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study investigates inequalities in occupational status and wages between native-born and foreign-born employees in elderly care institutions in Sweden. It finds that employees from Africa, Asia and Latin Americathe "Global South"are disadvantaged in both respects. Combinatory explanations of the inequalities are needed. The shorter work experience of foreign-born workers in the care sector plus the lesser value given to educational credentials obtained outside Sweden are among the factors related to human capital theory. Access to less-valuable resources in the workplace social networks of foreign-born employees is related to social capital theory. The processes that result in exclusion from powerful social networks, in turn, are found to be affected by discrimination in the workplace.
Identities, 2019
This paper is about self-identification by a sample of young people with various migrant backgrou... more This paper is about self-identification by a sample of young people with various migrant backgrounds in Sweden. In a survey we asked them how they present themselves to others in different contexts (in their schools and neighbourhoods or when they are out of Sweden). Our findings suggest that young people's identification is not fixed. The paths to these various forms of identification are shaped by a variety of individual (class background, parents' country of origin) and social factors (friendship networks and school composition). The results indicate that those who identified themselves as Swedish or hyphenated tended to be quite similar as regards their other characteristics, while those who presented themselves with the parents' birth country or religious affiliation have very little in common.
Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 2010
The purpose of this study is (a) to depict the general pattern of partnership of immigrants and t... more The purpose of this study is (a) to depict the general pattern of partnership of immigrants and their children in Sweden and their position in the Swedish “marriage market” relative to that of natives; (b) to estimate probability of out-marriage of individuals from different immigrant groups with natives; and (c) to examine ‘exchange theory’ in relation to partnerships between immigrants and natives. Using a register data-set provided by Statistics Sweden, I find that individuals in this sample tend to choose men and women who are like themselves in socio-economic background, income, educational level, and position in the labour market. Regarding “immigrant background,” the results indicate a tendency towards “ethnic endogamy.” Results also show that men and women with origins in countries outside northwest Europe and North America (ONW) have a lower probability of having a native partner than others. Empirical results also provide some support for “exchange theory,” that is, member...
Higher Education, 2018
This article deals with individuals of immigrant background in Swedish higher education-i.e., tho... more This article deals with individuals of immigrant background in Swedish higher education-i.e., those who have a PhD and work in Swedish universities. The aim of the study is to examine whether and how factors other than academic qualifications-such as gender and migrant background-may affect the individual's ability to find employment and pursue a successful career in a Swedish institution of higher education. The data used in the first section are Swedish registry data (LISA database and population), administered by Statistics Sweden. The second part of the paper is based on semi-structured interviews with 19 academics of migrant background. The results show that, given the same work experience and compared to the reference group (born in Sweden with at least one Swedish-born parent), individuals born in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America are, firstly, more likely to be unemployed and, secondly, if they are employed, to have a lower income (lower position). The ways in which such gaps arises are also examined.
British Journal of Sociology of Education, 2019
Recent research demonstrates that, along with the family, the peer group and the school environme... more Recent research demonstrates that, along with the family, the peer group and the school environment, extra-curricular activities are important contexts for young people's educational and social development. This article is the result of a survey conducted with a sample of young people in their last year of compulsory school in Sweden and examines both who has access to the different types of extra-curricular activity and the consequences of their participation in the various programmes. As the results indicate, after controlling for respondents' class and migrant background, their gender and their health, there are positive and significant associations between participation in certain types of activity (sporting, cultural and religious) on the one hand, and students' school performance and educational expectations on the other. However, attendance at a less-organised activity (youth recreation centres or fritidsgård) shows a negative association with these outcomes. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the gender, social class and migrant background of students affect their rate of participation in many of these activities.
Work, Employment and Society, 2016
When encountering problems and dissatisfaction in the workplace, employees may choose between thr... more When encountering problems and dissatisfaction in the workplace, employees may choose between three strategies: voice; exit; or silence. Using survey data and interview material from a study of employees in an elderly care organization in Sweden, this article investigates the workers’ perceptions of the eligibility and prospects of these strategies and which individual characteristics and situational factors might affect them. The focus is on racialized workers (operationalized through their region of birth) who, according to earlier studies, are less likely than other employees to choose voice behaviour. Contrary to some earlier studies, the results here attribute such a propensity to the importance of power differences across ‘racial hierarchies’ rather than to differences in cultural values. Individuals in this (racialized) category have a lower occupational status, earn less and experience less favourable relationships with their managers.
This survey and book is the product of cooperation between researchers at the Centre for Research... more This survey and book is the product of cooperation between researchers at the Centre for Research in International Migration and Ethnic Relations at Stockholm University (CEIFO). We are indebted to our international colleagues within the TIES research network for their collaboration at all stages of the research process: formulating research questions, devising the questionnaire, analysing data and commenting on draft versions of the report. This fruitful cooperation has led to new and exciting research questions concerning the social inclusion of the descendants of migrants. Colleagues at CEIFO participated actively at different stages of the process. We would like to thank Professor Orlando Mella and Dr. Ebba Hedlund for their input during the early stages of the process. Dr. Ali Osman was involved at the later stage of analysis and we would also like to thank him for his contribution. While writing this book, the authors of the different chapters benefited from the knowledge and assistance of senior researchers at CEIFO. We would particularly like to thank Professor Erik Olsson and Professor Per Lundborg for their invaluable critique and suggestions with regard to the various chapters in this book. Our very special thanks go to Associate Professor Lena Schröder, who participated as an external member of the research team and wrote a chapter for the book. The project was financed by The Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, for whose support we sincerely express our deep gratitude.
Journal of Sociology, 2016
This study makes use of a dataset which contains material relating to young Swedish people who ha... more This study makes use of a dataset which contains material relating to young Swedish people who have recently completed their studies and started working. It explores whether using social networks as such or using individuals’ resources which are accessible through social networks (social capital) provides relative advantages in the competition for better jobs. Interest in this topic stems from the recent development of sociological theories in this field. The results indicate that the use of social ties is a common way to find a job in the highly regulated Swedish labour market, but that informal recruitment methods per se provide no relative advantages in the competition for better jobs. On the other hand, given the same demographic characteristics, socioeconomic background and educational attainments, there is a positive association between resources embedded in an individual’s social network (social capital) and the quality of the jobs obtained.
Unga migranters studiebenagenhet : Rapport fran projektet Transnationella utbildningskarriarer: S... more Unga migranters studiebenagenhet : Rapport fran projektet Transnationella utbildningskarriarer: Studieval, mojlighetshorisont och sociala natverk for unga med utlandsk anknytning