40 / 2014

Jaka Vadnjal

The Importance of Social Capital within an Ethnic Community: Albanian Entrepreneurs in Slovenia

ABSTRACT
As the economically most developed part of former Yugoslavia, Slovenia has traditionally been a host country for numerous immigrants of other nationalities. There has long been a presence of Albanian nationals and it appears that a new wave of immigration of Albanians to Slovenia has been happening since 1991. Slovenia has become an even more popular immigration destination since joining the EU in 2004. In this article, fourteen case studies of Albanian entrepreneurs are analyzed in order to give a picture of their somewhat unique way of running business activities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to address several research questions in a qualitative manner. Albanian immigrants do not come to Slovenia to seek their fortune. Through a dense network of family and friends, the processes of newcomers starting a business or finding employment seem to be very well planned ahead. Although serving the mainstream economy, Albanian entrepreneurs in Slovenia rely heavily on informal supportand also financing from their extended families and the entire Albanian community. They have traditionally worked in only a few types of business (pastry shops, fruits and vegetables, bakeries, construction).They form a particular part of the Slovenian economy, well-integrated but also self-sustainable in the face of new economic processes, with their traditional high level of reliance on their community, family and ethnic-based social capital.
KEY WORDS: ethnic minority entrepreneurship, immigrant businesses, social capital, community, Albanian entrepreneurs in Slovenia

40 / 2014

Jaka Vadnjal

The Importance of Social Capital within an Ethnic Community: Albanian Entrepreneurs in Slovenia

ABSTRACT
As the economically most developed part of former Yugoslavia, Slovenia has traditionally been a host country for numerous immigrants of other nationalities. There has long been a presence of Albanian nationals and it appears that a new wave of immigration of Albanians to Slovenia has been happening since 1991. Slovenia has become an even more popular immigration destination since joining the EU in 2004. In this article, fourteen case studies of Albanian entrepreneurs are analyzed in order to give a picture of their somewhat unique way of running business activities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to address several research questions in a qualitative manner. Albanian immigrants do not come to Slovenia to seek their fortune. Through a dense network of family and friends, the processes of newcomers starting a business or finding employment seem to be very well planned ahead. Although serving the mainstream economy, Albanian entrepreneurs in Slovenia rely heavily on informal supportand also financing from their extended families and the entire Albanian community. They have traditionally worked in only a few types of business (pastry shops, fruits and vegetables, bakeries, construction).They form a particular part of the Slovenian economy, well-integrated but also self-sustainable in the face of new economic processes, with their traditional high level of reliance on their community, family and ethnic-based social capital.
KEY WORDS: ethnic minority entrepreneurship, immigrant businesses, social capital, community, Albanian entrepreneurs in Slovenia

40 / 2014

Tea Golob

Contemporary Identifications and Transnational Flows: Transnational Social Fields and Identifications of the “Ryanair Generation” of Irish Migrants

ABSTRACT
The article focuses on certain issues related to contemporary identifications in the transnational social sphere which are a result of reflexive considerations of the individual’s position in the social environment, but also simultaneously depend on particular predispositions shaped through ongoing interactions between traditions, worldviews and values of the individual’s context of origin. The main aim is to demonstrate the potential of the concept of social fields in its transnational variant and connect theargumentation to the Irish transnational diaspora. The paper draws insight from in-depth interviewswhich were obtained using the ethnographic method. The concept of the transnational social field is capable of shedding light on the dynamics of identity constructions which in the transnational sphere are more specific. A substantial role is played by the individual’s ability to access to various types of capital. Further, the transition between particular fields enables more intensive reflexivity and a consideration of an individual’s actions and also of the institutional frames in which they are embedded. Transnational layers of identities can thus take on instrumental meanings and allow individuals to have greater control over their lives and more easily achieve their goals.
KEY WORDS: Irish diaspora, transnational habitus, identifications

40 / 2014

Tea Golob

Contemporary Identifications and Transnational Flows: Transnational Social Fields and Identifications of the “Ryanair Generation” of Irish Migrants

ABSTRACT
The article focuses on certain issues related to contemporary identifications in the transnational social sphere which are a result of reflexive considerations of the individual’s position in the social environment, but also simultaneously depend on particular predispositions shaped through ongoing interactions between traditions, worldviews and values of the individual’s context of origin. The main aim is to demonstrate the potential of the concept of social fields in its transnational variant and connect theargumentation to the Irish transnational diaspora. The paper draws insight from in-depth interviewswhich were obtained using the ethnographic method. The concept of the transnational social field is capable of shedding light on the dynamics of identity constructions which in the transnational sphere are more specific. A substantial role is played by the individual’s ability to access to various types of capital. Further, the transition between particular fields enables more intensive reflexivity and a consideration of an individual’s actions and also of the institutional frames in which they are embedded. Transnational layers of identities can thus take on instrumental meanings and allow individuals to have greater control over their lives and more easily achieve their goals.
KEY WORDS: Irish diaspora, transnational habitus, identifications

40 / 2014

Milena Bevc, Sonja Uršič

The Scale of International Migration, Migrants’ Education and the Influence of these Phenomena on the Size of the Slovene Population and its Educational Attainment

ABSTRACT
We analyze the scale of international migration, the migrants' education levels and the influence of these two phenomena on the size of the Slovene population and its educational attainment during the last two decades. The emphasis is on the period 1995–2013 and on the migration of Slovene citizens. International migration during the above mentioned period contributed to population growth, after 1999 entirely on account of migration of foreigners (for Slovene citizens net migration was negative). During the period 2008–2012 migration also had a positive influence on the number of inhabitants with tertiary education, again on account of migration of foreigners (positive net migration). For the migration of Slovene citizens during this and also longer period (2003–2012) this influence was negative – net migration for citizens with tertiary education was negative.
KEY WORDS: international migration, scale of migration, migrants' education, population growth, Slovenia

40 / 2014

Milena Bevc, Sonja Uršič

The Scale of International Migration, Migrants’ Education and the Influence of these Phenomena on the Size of the Slovene Population and its Educational Attainment

ABSTRACT
We analyze the scale of international migration, the migrants' education levels and the influence of these two phenomena on the size of the Slovene population and its educational attainment during the last two decades. The emphasis is on the period 1995–2013 and on the migration of Slovene citizens. International migration during the above mentioned period contributed to population growth, after 1999 entirely on account of migration of foreigners (for Slovene citizens net migration was negative). During the period 2008–2012 migration also had a positive influence on the number of inhabitants with tertiary education, again on account of migration of foreigners (positive net migration). For the migration of Slovene citizens during this and also longer period (2003–2012) this influence was negative – net migration for citizens with tertiary education was negative.
KEY WORDS: international migration, scale of migration, migrants' education, population growth, Slovenia

40 / 2014

Marijanca Ajša Vižintin

The Intercultural Education Model: For more Successful Inclusion of Immigrant Children

ABSTRACT
The lower performance of immigrant children and the recognition of inequity in the school system are two of the reasons for the development of different support systems for the inclusion of immigrant children. For more successful and effective intercultural education that contributes to the inclusion of immigrant children and intercultural dialogue in Slovenia, it is necessary to do the following: 1. understand interculturality as a basic pedagogical principle; 2. develop systematic support for the inclusion of immigrant children; 3. hire teachers with developed intercultural competence; 4. be aware of multicultural society and develop this awareness in all school subjects; 5. develop intercultural dialogue in school; 6. cooperate with (immigrant) parents, and; 7. cooperate with the local community. This model of intercultural education provides a holistic view of the process of inclusion of immigrant children. Its aims are more successful inclusion of immigrant children and the development of intercultural dialogue in schools.
KEY WORDS: immigrant children, integration, inclusion, intercultural competence, intercultural education

40 / 2014

Marijanca Ajša Vižintin

The Intercultural Education Model: For more Successful Inclusion of Immigrant Children

ABSTRACT
The lower performance of immigrant children and the recognition of inequity in the school system are two of the reasons for the development of different support systems for the inclusion of immigrant children. For more successful and effective intercultural education that contributes to the inclusion of immigrant children and intercultural dialogue in Slovenia, it is necessary to do the following: 1. understand interculturality as a basic pedagogical principle; 2. develop systematic support for the inclusion of immigrant children; 3. hire teachers with developed intercultural competence; 4. be aware of multicultural society and develop this awareness in all school subjects; 5. develop intercultural dialogue in school; 6. cooperate with (immigrant) parents, and; 7. cooperate with the local community. This model of intercultural education provides a holistic view of the process of inclusion of immigrant children. Its aims are more successful inclusion of immigrant children and the development of intercultural dialogue in schools.
KEY WORDS: immigrant children, integration, inclusion, intercultural competence, intercultural education

40 / 2014

Majda Hrženjak

The Globalization of Care and the Situation of Slovenian Care Workers in Italy

ABSTRACT
Based on individual interviews the author locates in contemporary global care economies Slovenian care workers who commute to Italy daily in order to perform cleaning and provide care for children and the elderly in private households. The main purpose is to identify the specific characteristics of informal care work in this micro border region between Italy and Slovenia, and to highlight the specific position of Slovenian care workers in global informal care markets. The analysis is based on 16 semi-structured interviews with female Slovenian citizens in the border region with Italy who commute daily to work in Italian households, and on current research on global care economies in Europe.
KEY WORDS: transnational care economies, global care chain, border region, migration, gender, women

40 / 2014

Majda Hrženjak

The Globalization of Care and the Situation of Slovenian Care Workers in Italy

ABSTRACT
Based on individual interviews the author locates in contemporary global care economies Slovenian care workers who commute to Italy daily in order to perform cleaning and provide care for children and the elderly in private households. The main purpose is to identify the specific characteristics of informal care work in this micro border region between Italy and Slovenia, and to highlight the specific position of Slovenian care workers in global informal care markets. The analysis is based on 16 semi-structured interviews with female Slovenian citizens in the border region with Italy who commute daily to work in Italian households, and on current research on global care economies in Europe.
KEY WORDS: transnational care economies, global care chain, border region, migration, gender, women