(Up)Rooting Sovereignty through the Metamorphoses of Migration

Author(s): Maria Nistor / Language(s): English Issue: 02/2015

This article emphasizes some key aspects of sovereignty in a brief synchronic analysis, insisting on the dynamic denotations the concept has in the actual global framework. Aspects related to asymmetric interactions of the migrants with the host society in a rather cosmopolitan world, where the nation-state is only one of the omnifarious actors involved in the policy- and decision making process are underlined, primarily in constructivist terms

The Adaptation of Intentional Immigrant Entrepreneurs: A Case Study

Author(s): Prue Cruickshank,Ann Dupuis / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2015

Objective: This paper describes the experiences of a group of intentional immigrant entrepreneurs (IIEs) who have successfully set up a business within three years of arrival in a new country. It shows how various forms of symbolic capital are successfully deployed at each stage of the entrepreneurial process and asserts that the study of intentional, well-resourced immigrants, can contribute to understanding immigrant entrepreneurs’ adaptation to their new settings and also inform immigration policy. Research Design & Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of New Zealand intentional immigrant entrepreneurs. The iterative analytical process used revealed the various dimensions of symbolic capital necessary for adaptation to the host country and to fulfilling visa requirements to gain residency. Findings: This paper demonstrates that the successful adaptation of IIEs, while in the first instance requiring adequate financial capital, also requires the strategic use of human, cultural and social capital, in different ways and at different times in the entrepreneurial process, to overcome the obstacles and barriers to success. Implications & Recommendations: As immigration policy makers seek to balance global migrant pressures and international obligations against internal national economic and political demands, the results of this study could resonate with both global policy analysts and scholars engaged in immigrant entrepreneurship. Contribution & Value Added: This article adds to the relatively small body of scholarship on IIEship, particularly those who, unlike the majority of immigrant entrepreneurs, do not establish a business within ethnic communities.

Modes of Entry to Male Immigrant Entrepreneurship in a Rural Context: Start-up Stories from Northern Norway

Author(s): Mai Camilla Munkejord / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2015

Objective: The purpose of this article is to address rural and gender gaps in the immigrant entrepreneurship literature by analysing the start-up narratives of nine male entrepreneurs in Finnmark in northernmost Norway. Research Design & Methods: The article is based on a qualitative fieldwork including business visits and in-depth interviews. The transcripts from the interviews were analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach (CGT). Findings: The article contributes to the entrepreneurship literature in general and to the immigrant entrepreneurship literature in particular in three ways: first, by high-lighting the gendered experiences of male immigrant entrepreneurs; second, by identifying three distinct modes of entry into rural immigrant entrepreneurship, including a) entrepreneurship as a means to live in a region of perceived attractiveness; b) entrepreneurship ‘because I was asked to do it’ and c) entrepreneurship as a preferred choice for men in satisfactory wage labour; and third, by revealing that the experiences of participants, regardless of their mode of entry into entrepreneurship, are shaped by the family and spatial contexts in which the entrepreneurs are situated. Implications & Recommendations: This study notes that the modes of entry to rural immigrant entrepreneurship are diverse, but often related to the pursuit of an initial feeling of belonging in the new region of settlement. Hence, developing our knowledge of how to not only attract but also retain and increase the feeling of local belonging of immigrants may be important for many rural regions in the Western world. This is because rural immigrants not only represent a much needed inflow of younger people in a typically decreasing and ageing population, but also entail cultural variation and job creation, thus contributing to place development. Contribution & Value Added: The originality of this article is to address rural and gender gaps in the immigrant entrepreneurship literature by analysing the start-up narratives of nine male entrepreneurs in Finnmark in northernmost Norway.

Reasons and consequences of migration for contemporary Europe

Author(s): Teresa Gardocka,Paweł Kowalski / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2017

Immigration has irreversibly changed European lifestyle and demographics over the past generations. This article reviews impact of that immigration current and future life of European citizens. It shows paths from where immigrants are arriving to Europe, as well as reasons why they are doing it. Further, we disscuss, wheter it is possible that European nations can significantly decrease such inflow of immigrants, and what would effect can it create for European Union population.

Australia: Immigration and Multiculturalism

Author(s): Seweryn (Sev) Ozdowski / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2016

The paper is based on an address to “Immigration and Multiculturalism in XXI Century. The Case of Poland”, conference organised by the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan in April 2016. It reviews both the Australian immigration experience and Australian multiculturalism from an historical perspective and also reviews current practice in an attempt to evaluate its relevance to Europe.

Human Rights Discourse on Migration – the Case of Slovakia

Author(s): Jarmila Androvičová / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Human rights discourse is one of the discourses relevant in the political discursive struggle over the migration and migration policies in particular nation states or in the European Union. Traditionally, in Western European immigration countries, this discourse has been represented by leftist political parties (socialist or social democratic) and in a more radical way by the social movements and human rights NGO’s. In Slovakia, human rights discourse on migration has never been significantly represented by relevant political parties, on the contrary, migration has been always a topic marked by considerable and unusual political consensus. Human right discourse on migration is a marginal view, represented mainly by few non-governmental organizations. Using the method of Critical discourse analysis, the paper tries to analyse the strategies of discursive struggle over the migration, and relevant social representations being used.

Kompetencje międzykulturowe a wykształcenie polskich emigrantów w Anglii

Author(s): Mariusz Korczyński / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2018

The study was undertaken in an attempt to prove the relationship between the level of acquiring the most important intercultural competences and the education of the persons examined. A group of 123 Poles working in South West England was examined for that purpose. The study was conducted using the survey method with the questionnaire technique and a self-constructed research tool. Research has shown that the level of acquisition of the analyzed specific and key intercultural competences depends on the level of education of the surveyed Poles on labour emigration in England. The highest, good level of acquisition of the analyzed competences, was demonstrated by those with higher and secondary education. The lowest by those with basic education. There is a need for intercultural education of all participants involved in the educational process, regardless of his/her level (higher, average, professional). The programs of all subjects should include the effects of education in the field of soft skills, i.e. social, intercultural. As the research shows, the vast majority of competences determining the achievement of above-average work performance are just of a similar nature to such competences. Such content can be introduced within a stand-alone subject or over the course of realizing other subjects.

Problematyka migracji klimatycznych w polityce i prawie międzynarodowym

Author(s): Piotr Krajewski,Kamila Groszkowska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2018

The topic of this article is the problem of no legal regulations regarding the status of environmental migrants and its implications. Neither does International law permit them to take advantage of legal protection granted to refugees, nor are their interests represented in any international document. The article presents the analysis of the works of United Nations, expert group and international organisations, which resulted in introducing the notions of migrants and people in vulnerable situations to the Preamble of, adopted at the climate conference in 2015, Paris Agreement, stressing the importance of promoting and respecting their rights. Moreover, it has been decided to create a special task force within the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage, which aim is to draft recommendations on how to minimise the impact of climate change on migration. The article then proceeds to analyse the effectiveness of the actions undertaken by the task force as well as by other key actors, such as other UN departments, International Organisation for Migration or world leaders at G20 summits. The final part presents the assessment of said actions, indicating why they are insufficient and the model of preventing and reducing economical damage unsatisfactory.

ПРЕНАСЕЛЕНОСТ: ПРИЧИНИ, ЕФЕКТИ И РЕШЕНИЯ

Author(s): Ivo Tsekov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1-2/2017

Defined as an undesirable state where the number of an existing human population exceeds the absorption capacity of the Earth, overpopulation belongs to the so-called non-traditional threats to international security that give the appearance of the current security environment. Managing demographic crises is crucial because they directly threaten security at national, regional and international levels. An analytical article would benefit a wide range of security specialists, academics, students and people interested in international law and international relations.

Наши занемарени исељенци

Author(s): Ljubomir Leontik / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 03/1921

Расејана по свету олујама живота, сиротна деца наше патничке земље не могу да забораве своју рођену мајку, ни онда кад вративши се из даљине, измождена и старачког мира жедна, разочарана и очајна опет одлазе од нас за увек...

Polonia w Kolorado

Author(s): Maja Bromboszcz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2004

Shifts and Trends of the Romanian Emigration from Oltenia Region

Author(s): Alexandra Porumbescu / Language(s): English Issue: XXIV/2023

Emigration is, probably, the most defining process of social change that affected Romania during the past decades. Although difficult to estimate, the great number of Romanians who chose to live, work or study in other countries caused significant consequences both in the communities of origin, and in the host-countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate, based on the statistical data issued by the Romanian National Institute of Statistics, the size and demographic characteristics of the migratory flow during the past ten years in the Oltenia Region, as well as to analyse the effects of these population movements based on economic, social, and other criteria, regarding the area of origin. As a secondary objective, there will be scrutinized the effects occurred during the period of time when coronavirus pandemic related restrictions to the freedom of circulation were enforced on the migratory flow.

Bezbednosni rizici savremenih migracija

Author(s): Saša V. Mijalković,Ivan Petrović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2016

Contemporary migrations are featured not only by internal or international movement of people for existential reasons. Nowadays, there are economic migrants, refugees from conflict zones, politically persecuted asylum seekers and ecological migrants. This comes up to be a global problem, often linked to transnational organized crime and terrorism, which certainly has many security implications for contemporary society, the state and the international community. If we take into account the fact that contemporary migrations take on the characteristics of globalism and organization and become increasingly mass, it is clear that the risks and consequences for human, national and international security are multiplied. In this regard, the paper will make a reference to the typology and the effects of the security risks of contemporary migrations.

Political Integration of the Vietnamese Diaspora in Poland: An Investigation of the Role of Social Capital

Author(s): HỮU AN NGUYỄN / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

This study concerns the political integration of the Vietnamese in Poland, one of the largest non- European immigrant communities with a very long presence in the country. The central analysis is devoted to investigating the role of bonding and bridging social capital produced by involvement in (formal and informal) social networks in the political integration of the migrant group, empirically observed through political engagement in Polish society. The study employs the mixed research method, utilizing quantitative data from an original survey with 347 respondents and qualitative data from 15 semi-structured interviews for analyses. The results show that the effects of social capital on political integration vary across types of social networks and forms of engagement in host politics. Notably, bonding rather than bridging social capital is a prominent driver of the political engagement of the Vietnamese in Polish society.

Xenophobic encounters: sociological perspectives on the experience of migration in South Africa

Author(s): Buhle Mpofu / Language(s): English Issue: 6/2018

With migration currently dominating global political and economic debates as more migrants and refugees flee wars in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and other unstable countries this paper presents part of ethnographic data collected through field worka with migrants in Johannesburg as part of a contribution towards understanding the complexity of this phenomenon. The data was collected over a period of three months and drawn from focus group discussions, interviews with key informants and self-administered questionnaires. These findings confirm that migrants in Johannesburg live in ‘fear’ and even ‘ashamed’ they were living in a City with such high levels of migrant hostility, citing unjust economic practices from corrupt public officials and lack of protection in the face of violence, dislocation and rejection in a culturally diverse society around Johannesburg. Although the migrants indicated that they felt welcome with the UPCSA congregations, there was enough evidence to conclude that the congregations are not competent and do not have a strategy to minister to the now predominantly migrant congregations. The paper argues that understanding these realities was helpful in sketching the details for emerging sociological themes that emerged in relation to lived social experiences of migrants with regards to engagement with society, Recognition and Human Dignity, Shame and Vulnerability, Competition and Compassion fatigue.

Dynamics of Internal Migration in the Southwest Region of Bangladesh

Author(s): Hasan Kamrul,Sultana Niger / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

Bangladesh is well-known as a developing nation around the world. Migration is common in Bangladesh, particularly within the country. To raise their living conditions (income, housing, education, health, communication, etc.), many people move to new areas. Dacope Upazila is located in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, and this study seeks to examine the factors that contribute to the dynamics of internal migration by assessing the social and economic changes in the living standard of internal migrants following the migration. Both primary and secondary data were analysed statistically. The use of a questionnaire survey has allowed for the collection of primary data. Priority ranking matrix, Satisfaction Index, Economic Status Index (ESI), and Social Status Index (SSI) were computed to analyse the data. Statistical methods were also used to derive demographic information of the migrants. The study found that the majority of migrants were men who were either unemployed or living in poverty. The lack of economic opportunities, the inability to protect one's financial well-being from natural disasters, and the absence of adequate market infrastructure were the primary driving forces of migration. Migratory choices are heavily influenced by economic factors, and a lack of employment opportunities was ranked as the top factor. The Satisfaction Index highlighted the high levels of contentment experienced by internal migrants. Both the ESI and SSI showed greater improvement in the migrants' social and economic standing after migration. One could say that internal migration has a significant effect on the resulting population.

Арктические регионы России в межрегиональных миграционных связях

Author(s): Aleksandr О. Averyanov,Irina S. Stepus / Language(s): Russian Issue: 2/2024

To understand current and predict future migration, it is necessary to consider historical trends in migration connectivity of important Arctic regions with other constituent entities of Russia. The article aims to examine migration links between the Arctic and other regions using data from the All-Russian population censuses and statistics on interregional migration of the Federal State Statistics Service for 2007–2010 and 2017–2021. The conducted analysis revealed a decrease in migration mobility of the population, especially in the Russian Arctic. Eight out of nine Arctic regions are characterised by a negative net migration. To describe population localisation, a three-component model was proposed: centres of gravity, regions with independence of mutual localisation, and regions with normal localisation. This model is valid for all Russian regions; additionally, there is a direct connection between in – and out-migration. Analysis of the variation of localisation coefficients showed that migration flows from the Arctic regions have already formed, and incoming flows are more dynamic. The paper proposed a new approach to measuring the stability of migration flows over time based on assessing the coefficient of variation. The regions of the Russian Arctic were classified according to the stability of migration flows: regions with stable migration flows, with mobile migration flows and with unstable migration flows. Statistical analysis of such stability confirmed their stabilisation during the studied period. A hypothesis about the influence of the remoteness of regions on the stability of migration flows was tested, the dependence was observed only within 2 thousand kilometres between regional capitals. The findings present trends of lifelong and long-term migration between the Arctic and other Russian regions and outline the main strategic management directions in the field of interregional migration.

Lessons Learnt? War, Exile and Hope among Child Refugees in the Czech Republic

Author(s): Lucie Macková,Andrea Preissová Krejčí / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

This study describes the experiences of child refugees from Ukraine residing in the Czech Republic and sheds light on the perception of their situation. Our research is based on selected stories of 22 children from Ukraine – who wrote down their experiences of the war – and additional sources containing children’s memories of the war from other contexts and historical periods. Using qualitative analysis of their narratives, we look at their life stories, which we have recorded, code, and sorted into analytical categories. The results indicate children’s agency and the importance of their social relations. Moreover, we stress similarities with other refugee situations from the past that led to shaping children’s identities. Attention should also be paid to the importance of children’s vulnerabilities and special needs in refugee situations, especially when it comes to securing their emotional needs and education.

‘For a Secure and Stable Life’: Constructing Life Satisfaction in the ‘Migratory Careers’ of Russian Immigrant Physicians in Finland

Author(s): Driss Habti,Nina Szczygieł / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

This article investigates the subjective life satisfaction of Russian immigrant physicians in Finland. Itfocuses on how life satisfaction is subjectively experienced and interpreted post migration in a bid toidentify the resources which influence it in both work and family domains. The advantage of life satisfactionis taking it as a unifying cross-disciplinary conceptual framework and as a multidimensional analyticalapproach, including macro-societal, meso-relational, and micro-personal levels. We use the concept of themigratory career to analyse work and family life on migration journeys. These life evaluations are analysedusing a sociological conception of subjective life satisfaction and a psychological conception of wellbeingas guiding principles in theory and analysis. Based on 26 semi-structured qualitative interviews, the studyfinds that an interplay between societal-structural and personal-relational resources makes the intervieweessatisfied with their work and family lives. Societal-structural resources included the work environment, income,life security and stability, while personal-relational resources included social support, social trust, and familyrelationships. Beyond the classical income and job security, we find our participants’ experienced andinterpreted life satisfaction is essentially associated with outcomes of family-friendly and supportive workconditions. Moreover, social and personal security and family stability are important for their quality oflife in a characteristic Nordic social environment.

‘Many Benefit from You Being Undocumented Here’: The Everyday Capabilities of Undocumented Immigrants in Moscow

Author(s): Maija Kalm-Akubardia / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

This critical ethnographic study was conducted among 15 immigrants originally from Caucasian andCentral Asian countries, each with more than 10 years of undocumented residence in Moscow. It focuseson the everyday experiences of undocumented immigrants in a non-Western context, illustrating howinformal networks, alongside official migration policies, contribute to and exploit unequal capabilities. Thestudy emphasises the thresholds of emotions, affiliation and control over a person’s environment,demonstrating power asymmetries between individuals. Given the participants’ prolonged undocumentedstay in Moscow, the findings demonstrate how the socio-legal context of an undocumented status facilitatesinformal exploitation alongside institutional operating models, aligning with migration policies in practice.