A bubble in the making: symbolic boundaries in a Finnish expatriate community

Purpose While there is anecdotal evidence that internationally mobile workers often form isolated nation-based communities or “expatriate bubbles,” previous academic scholarship on the expatriate and their subjective boundaries limited. The primary purpose of this article to advance theoretical conceptual understanding as bubbles. Design/methodology/approach As developed by Lamont Molnár (2002), theory symbolic applied set scrutinize production maintenance insulated communities. Empirically, an ethnographic study a community Finnish expatriates in Southeast Asian country undertaken describe how are constructed. Findings main implication paper recognition themselves involved creating “bubble.” separating national not externally imposed but can be viewed consequences active boundary work expatriates. empirical demonstrates negotiated community, drawing cultural, moral spatial modalities different levels work. Originality/value There need more systematic attempts develop theoretically grounded boundaries. This contributes sociological conceptualization bubbles utilizing approach, which adds perspective embryonic multiplicity types suggests bubble rarely finished state structure.