The Impact of Social Remittances on the Dynamics and Direction of Social Change in Rural Areas of Gujrat Pakistan

Abstract

Social remittances transfer ideas, identities, behaviors, and social capital from communities in receiving countries to those in sending countries. They represent the social and cultural assets that migrants carry with them as they move between these communities. Pakistan is one of leading migrants producing countries in the world. People migrate to enhance their skills and to improve their economic status. Pakistan is facing problems of political insatiability and lack of democracy since its inception which ultimately worsening the economic condition of the country. An affluent class is ruling due to people’s lack of awareness regarding their rights and responsibilities being as citizen of the country. Therefore, there is dire need to study the phenomenon in-depth. The primary objective of current study is to explore the impact of social remittances on the development of political awareness, the encouragement of civic engagement, and the fostering of citizenship within the selected area of study. Social remittances in this context encompass systems of practice, normative structures, and social capital. The research was carried out in Pakistan's Gujrat district, regarded as one of the top-generating regions for migrants. The head of the home in immigrant families served as the primary analytical unit for this study. To acquire data, non-probability sampling techniques were used. An ethnographic technique was used for collecting and analyzing data in order to meet the study goals. The study's conclusions show that families with members who have immigrated abroad have greater levels of civic participation and political understanding. The study's findings indicate that social remittances might be a valuable instrument for boosting civic participation, political knowledge, and active citizenship.