Migration and Family Dynamics: Viewpoints of Bulgaria’s Left Behind
Migration and Family Dynamics: Viewpoints of Bulgaria’s Left Behind

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the impact of migration on family dynamics, focusing specifically on the experiences and reflections of those left behind in Bulgaria after younger family members migrate abroad for higher education. It also includes the perspectives of young Bulgarians who have either stayed in or returned to their home country, exploring how their life choices and worldviews have been influenced by their own experiences, both within Bulgaria and abroad, as well as by the experiences of relatives who have lived outside the country for more than two years. In this context, the paper will analyse the differing perspectives on migration in post-communist Bulgaria, highlighting how generational viewpoints have evolved under the influence of changing value systems before and after 1989. These differences will be particularly evident in discussions among migrant families on topics such as gender rights and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The communication choices and behaviours within these families reveal the strategies they use to strengthen and maintain their familial microclimate, which is influenced by the challenge of family members living both inside and outside the country and the limited time they can spend together.

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