ABSTRACT

The key aspects of issues related to Roma identity are inevitably linked to traditional migration on one hand and the long-term exposure of Roma to discrimination and social exclusion on the other. There- fore, the debate about identity issues, which are also disputable within the framework of the Roma community, would not be feasible without a brief review of the historical patterns of the movement of the Roma, processes of change during the migration waves and preservation of awareness of belonging to a group with specific ethnic and cultural features.

The contemporary analysis of the identity issues of Roma in Macedonia has an ambitious goal: through the application of three approaches used in the research of Roma, to give an overview of the causes and effects of the socio-economic status of Roma, migration and issues related to identity.

KEYWORDS: Roma, migration, identity, social exclusion

ABSTRACT

The key aspects of issues related to Roma identity are inevitably linked to traditional migration on one hand and the long-term exposure of Roma to discrimination and social exclusion on the other. There- fore, the debate about identity issues, which are also disputable within the framework of the Roma community, would not be feasible without a brief review of the historical patterns of the movement of the Roma, processes of change during the migration waves and preservation of awareness of belonging to a group with specific ethnic and cultural features.

The contemporary analysis of the identity issues of Roma in Macedonia has an ambitious goal: through the application of three approaches used in the research of Roma, to give an overview of the causes and effects of the socio-economic status of Roma, migration and issues related to identity.

KEYWORDS: Roma, migration, identity, social exclusion

ABSTRACT

The Republic of Macedonia has been facing increased flows of returnees following their legal or illegal emigration abroad. This has led to the recognition of the issue of their social, economic and cultural reintegration into society. In order to respond to the needs of the returnees, the Government has developed a Programme for Reintegration of Returnees in Accordance with the Readmission Agreements. It is expected that this programme will add to the activities of the non-governmental organisations in assisting returnees and their families upon their voluntary or forced return in a more organised and systemic way.

KEY WORDS: illegal migration, reintegration, voluntary and forced return, returning migrants, readmission agreements

ABSTRACT

The Republic of Macedonia has been facing increased flows of returnees following their legal or illegal emigration abroad. This has led to the recognition of the issue of their social, economic and cultural reintegration into society. In order to respond to the needs of the returnees, the Government has developed a Programme for Reintegration of Returnees in Accordance with the Readmission Agreements. It is expected that this programme will add to the activities of the non-governmental organisations in assisting returnees and their families upon their voluntary or forced return in a more organised and systemic way.

KEY WORDS: illegal migration, reintegration, voluntary and forced return, returning migrants, readmission agreements

ABSTRACT

The article questions the validity of the notion of multiple or shifting migrant identities. I argue that such usages of identity in some transnationalism and migration regime studies and in policymaking may serve to label migrants as different. What is ignored by such accounts is that belonging is not freefloating but is situated and contextually bounded, while making “positive” identitary claims may mask the actual structural inequalities. Alternative conceptualizations are explored in which I use the concept of narration and storytelling that better describes migrants’ contextualized realities. The theoretical argument is coupled with empirical research in which various types of belonging in the post-Yugoslav context are explored using biographical interviews with migrants who live in Slovenia.

KEY WORDS: identity, hybrid identity, migrant belonging, narration, former Yugoslavia

ABSTRACT

The article questions the validity of the notion of multiple or shifting migrant identities. I argue that such usages of identity in some transnationalism and migration regime studies and in policymaking may serve to label migrants as different. What is ignored by such accounts is that belonging is not freefloating but is situated and contextually bounded, while making “positive” identitary claims may mask the actual structural inequalities. Alternative conceptualizations are explored in which I use the concept of narration and storytelling that better describes migrants’ contextualized realities. The theoretical argument is coupled with empirical research in which various types of belonging in the post-Yugoslav context are explored using biographical interviews with migrants who live in Slovenia.

KEY WORDS: identity, hybrid identity, migrant belonging, narration, former Yugoslavia

ABSTRACT

The paper addresses the topic of the situation of transnationally adopted children in their receiving country. Exploring the ways in which a person becomes a part of a national group and/or culture and drawing on research in the area of transnational adoptions and ethnicization, as well as possible coping strategies, I contend that there is much more to belonging than citizenship or legal kinship.

KEY WORDS: transnational adoptions, kinship, migrants, nationality, identity

ABSTRACT

The paper addresses the topic of the situation of transnationally adopted children in their receiving country. Exploring the ways in which a person becomes a part of a national group and/or culture and drawing on research in the area of transnational adoptions and ethnicization, as well as possible coping strategies, I contend that there is much more to belonging than citizenship or legal kinship.

KEY WORDS: transnational adoptions, kinship, migrants, nationality, identity

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on post-2004 migration to the UK from A8 and A2 countries and discusses the complex, multi-layered and bounded nature of migrants’ decision making on length of stay. It argues that the maximisation of economic benefits is only one factor amongst many which influences decision making. Following a ‘bounded rationality’ approach the article considers the following three dimensions of decision making: perception of environment, goals and normative principles. Data from a longitudinal study of migrant workers in the East of England will be used to illustrate migrants’ decisions on length of stay. The study combined a mixed methods approach with a longitudinal panel approach and the article will present findings from three phases of semi-structured interviews (a core group of 30 A8/ A2 citizens over three years) and two surveys (161 participants in year 1 of which 61 responded in year 2). The article concludes that the maximisation of economic benefits is only part of a complex bundle of factors which influence decisions on length of stay. A positive perception of the wider social situation in the UK (influenced partly by participants’ transnational experience), a strong goal orientation (in the context of personal life and education) and strong normative principles (reflected in aspirations, de- termination, resilience and a certain flexibility regarding notions of identity and belonging) have been highlighted as important factors in decision making processes on length of stay.

KEY WORDS: A8/A2 migration, decision making, length of stay, bounded rationality

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on post-2004 migration to the UK from A8 and A2 countries and discusses the complex, multi-layered and bounded nature of migrants’ decision making on length of stay. It argues that the maximisation of economic benefits is only one factor amongst many which influences decision making. Following a ‘bounded rationality’ approach the article considers the following three dimensions of decision making: perception of environment, goals and normative principles. Data from a longitudinal study of migrant workers in the East of England will be used to illustrate migrants’ decisions on length of stay. The study combined a mixed methods approach with a longitudinal panel approach and the article will present findings from three phases of semi-structured interviews (a core group of 30 A8/ A2 citizens over three years) and two surveys (161 participants in year 1 of which 61 responded in year 2). The article concludes that the maximisation of economic benefits is only part of a complex bundle of factors which influence decisions on length of stay. A positive perception of the wider social situation in the UK (influenced partly by participants’ transnational experience), a strong goal orientation (in the context of personal life and education) and strong normative principles (reflected in aspirations, de- termination, resilience and a certain flexibility regarding notions of identity and belonging) have been highlighted as important factors in decision making processes on length of stay.

KEY WORDS: A8/A2 migration, decision making, length of stay, bounded rationality