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

ABSTRACT
The complex intertwinement of migration, social policy and social work can be approached and addressedin several manners. The author proposes a few directions for research within this relatively newmultidisciplinary fi eld that can be followed by scholars and policymakers and presents a few specifi cthemes that have proved to be of signifi cance in times of globalisation, increased (economic) competitivenessbetween states and world regions, and changing welfare regimes.
KEY WORDS: migration, social policy, social work, welfare state

ABSTRACT
The complex intertwinement of migration, social policy and social work can be approached and addressedin several manners. The author proposes a few directions for research within this relatively newmultidisciplinary fi eld that can be followed by scholars and policymakers and presents a few specifi cthemes that have proved to be of signifi cance in times of globalisation, increased (economic) competitivenessbetween states and world regions, and changing welfare regimes.
KEY WORDS: migration, social policy, social work, welfare state

ABSTRACT

The paper questions the classical notion of political representation, and places the notion of political representation in the context of contemporary critical theory. In doing so, it considers the contributions of various theorists: Laclau, Agamben and Hardt & Negri, who each in their own way reflect the role and the crisis of representation in contemporary social contexts. The contribution is primarily interested in what role, if any, political representation plays in the process of emergence of singularities and subjectivization, and what role it plays in the process of identification. The notion of the political representation is explored in relation to the process of identification, of singularity and political subjectivization. This paper therefore explores the aforementioned three ontological conceptualizations in relation to the so-called crisis of political representation.

KEY WORDS: subjectivization, identification, political representation, hegemony, naming

ABSTRACT

The paper questions the classical notion of political representation, and places the notion of political representation in the context of contemporary critical theory. In doing so, it considers the contributions of various theorists: Laclau, Agamben and Hardt & Negri, who each in their own way reflect the role and the crisis of representation in contemporary social contexts. The contribution is primarily interested in what role, if any, political representation plays in the process of emergence of singularities and subjectivization, and what role it plays in the process of identification. The notion of the political representation is explored in relation to the process of identification, of singularity and political subjectivization. This paper therefore explores the aforementioned three ontological conceptualizations in relation to the so-called crisis of political representation.

KEY WORDS: subjectivization, identification, political representation, hegemony, naming

ABSTRACT

In his novel Grenko morje [Bitter Sea] (2002) and in the collection of short stories Južni veter [Southern Wind] (2006), Marjan Tomšič presented Alexandrianism as a state of being torn between sacrifice and pleasure. Representations of Alexandrianism as a phenomenon which was supposed to cause the downfall of women are present on numerous levels: in the title, in the scheme of characters, in the narratological categories, in themes and motifs, in the imagery, in the language and in the speech of the characters.

KEY WORDS: aleksandrinke (Alexandrian women), Marjan Tomšič, representations of womanhood

ABSTRACT

In his novel Grenko morje [Bitter Sea] (2002) and in the collection of short stories Južni veter [Southern Wind] (2006), Marjan Tomšič presented Alexandrianism as a state of being torn between sacrifice and pleasure. Representations of Alexandrianism as a phenomenon which was supposed to cause the downfall of women are present on numerous levels: in the title, in the scheme of characters, in the narratological categories, in themes and motifs, in the imagery, in the language and in the speech of the characters.

KEY WORDS: aleksandrinke (Alexandrian women), Marjan Tomšič, representations of womanhood

ABSTRACT

Following a brief introduction to the earliest periods of Slovenian émigré literature in other parts of Eu- rope, a short history of Slovenian ethnic periodicals in Western Europe prior to the Second World War is presented, along with the major Slovenian émigré authors of the time. The following section discusses contemporary Slovenian émigré writers in the rest of Europe, while the last part of the article focuses on the questions concerning their literary bilingualism. An important aspect of this study is a comparison of the writers’ position, made on three levels: between different periods of time, between continents and between writers of diverse ethnic-cultural backgrounds.

KEY WORDS: Slovenian literature, Slovenian emigrants, Europe, contemporary literature, literary bilin- gualism

ABSTRACT

Following a brief introduction to the earliest periods of Slovenian émigré literature in other parts of Eu- rope, a short history of Slovenian ethnic periodicals in Western Europe prior to the Second World War is presented, along with the major Slovenian émigré authors of the time. The following section discusses contemporary Slovenian émigré writers in the rest of Europe, while the last part of the article focuses on the questions concerning their literary bilingualism. An important aspect of this study is a comparison of the writers’ position, made on three levels: between different periods of time, between continents and between writers of diverse ethnic-cultural backgrounds.

KEY WORDS: Slovenian literature, Slovenian emigrants, Europe, contemporary literature, literary bilin- gualism