132
self-identity and solidarity across time and contexts, and it then opens up
to the critical question of whether social capital is available or lacking in
different types of personal configurations (Chap. 6 ). More specifically,
after introducing the configurational perspective, we discuss the relative
importance of kin and non-kin in personal configurations, showing first
that the availability of kin ties depends on a demographic reservoir, and
secondly that friends play a key role in individuals’ personal relationships
in certain contexts. We also examine individuals’ position in social and
family structures and how this may impact the ways they develop their
personal configurations.
After this brief theoretical overview, we explore the diversity of per-
sonal configurations found in the three countries, underlining common-
alities and differences, and looking at them in the context of family life
and welfare. In doing so, we move away from an approach focusing on
specific ties (Chap. 3 ) to grasp their arrangements within complex pat-
terns of interdependencies. This approach allows us to assert that life tra-
jectories (Chap. 2 ) and, here, personal networks, are framed by their
specific historical, cultural, and socio-economic contexts. In addition to
the macro context, we explain diversity according to social structure
(birth cohort, gender, level of education) and family structure (partner-
ship, parenthood, having siblings). In conclusion, we reflect on the extent
of the diversity and draw an outline of how individuals build up their
personal relationships in Portugal, Lithuania, and Switzerland.
Individuals take part in society mainly by participating in different
institutionalized circles of social interaction (Simmel 2010 ), be they
called social fields (Bourdieu 1979 ), foci (Feld 1981 ), or configurations
(Elias 1978 ). As individuals participate in several social fields at the same
time, social participation can be defined by status and role sets (Levy
2013 ). For instance, an individual may be a doctor where she/he works,
a mother/father at home, a volunteer at her/his club. In those different
contexts of sociability, individuals may develop meaningful relationships
with kin and non-kin, with local and non-local people, depending for
instance on their migration history, family transitions, occupational
career, and involvement in leisure activities. In highly complex societies,
with many non-overlapping social circles, it is convenient to start with
individuals themselves when defining circles of sociability. We therefore
G. Aeby et al.