The intricacies of space and inclusiveness in family and personal networks

This chapter proposes that the spatial dispersion of family and intimate ties is intrinsically related to inclusiveness of family and personal networks. While the process of globalization - through international laws and agreements, the worldwide extension of capitalism, cultural flows and new technologies - stretch families and personal networks across spatial boundaries, it is also the extent to which individuals think about their families inclusively that shape the geography of their families and personal networks. The empirical results presented in the chapter indeed show that the size of family and personal networks has a strong effect of the extent to which they are spatially spread-out. Individualised societies compel individuals to actively shape their significant family and intimate relationships for facing the uncertainties risk societies create. Individuals in late modernity are forced to look beyond their local environment to maintain a large web of significant personal relationships, such ties being inside or outside the family.