Constructing interaction with immigration networks in the narrative of those who want to leave their homeland

Migrant networks are sets of interpersonal ties that connect migrants, former migrants, and nonmigrants in origin and destination areas through ties of kinship, friendship, and shared community origin. These networks play an essential role in forming the aspiration to leave or stay in the homeland. Also, potential migrants improve their capacity to migrate by getting information from these networks and their interpretation of their facilitating or encouraging role. In this study, we tried to understand the interaction of potential migrants with these networks by using the qualitative method of narrative analysis. In order to analyze the obtained information, we have used thematic narrative analysis. The participants were selected in a Purposive sampling from young people between 20 and 40 years old living in Isfahan. The findings show that interaction with migration networks was the turning point in the narrative of some narrators about the formation of the aspiration to leave the homeland. The role of migration networks is prominent in the conflict between leaving and staying. Narrators aspire to migrate either because of the encouragement of networks in the homeland and migrant networks in the destination or because of the loss of emotional ties in the homeland. In the capacity-building phase, the aspirants mentally and practically prepare themselves for migration by rejecting or accepting the information sent by the migration networks and their support to facilitate the migration process..