This essay discusses the concept of intercultural dialogue as it is defined in the European and Slovenian documents which refer to the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008, in view of some findings of the international research project Needs for Female Immigrants and their Integration in Ageing Societies, which was carried out in Slovenia between 2006 and 2007. The essay seeks to explain whether intercultural dialogue is a “moral compass” for the future image of the EU, or an established practice of an already effective exchange of views between the cultural carriers and/or participators in groups with various sociocultural backgrounds.
KEY WORDS: intercultural dialogue, foreigners, migration, female migrants, Slovenia

This essay discusses the concept of intercultural dialogue as it is defined in the European and Slovenian documents which refer to the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008, in view of some findings of the international research project Needs for Female Immigrants and their Integration in Ageing Societies, which was carried out in Slovenia between 2006 and 2007. The essay seeks to explain whether intercultural dialogue is a “moral compass” for the future image of the EU, or an established practice of an already effective exchange of views between the cultural carriers and/or participators in groups with various sociocultural backgrounds.
KEY WORDS: intercultural dialogue, foreigners, migration, female migrants, Slovenia

Little attention has been paid to the problems refugees and their families face while they try to reconstruct their social life and networks in exile. In this paper, refugees’ migration biographies and social integration in Norway is linked to broader issue of family membership and gender roles. Drawing on qualitative data and interviews with refugees, paper show how refugees’ family situation influence refugees’ social integration in exile, their perspectives on mainstream society and home country, inclusive their attitudes toward repatriation. It is argued in the paper that single refugees are more exposed to feelings of loneliness and social marginality in relation to the mainstream than refugees who are in exile together with their families and children. The paper maintains that in some cases, family members may facilitate integration into Norwegian networks. Among other things, family members may appear as family networking teams who simultaneously reproduce ties along the lines of a common family affiliation and bridge across ethnic groups. As members of such a team, family members will help to expand each other’s personal networks through joined networking activities. Finally, the findings also indicate that certain categories of refugee women who come to Norway through procedures for family reunion may be strongly dependant on their husbands, ending up in traditional gender roles and segregated social networks. The presented findings have potential implications for repatriation schemes and integration policies.
KEY WORDS: refugees, family relations, female dependence, family reunion, social integration

Little attention has been paid to the problems refugees and their families face while they try to reconstruct their social life and networks in exile. In this paper, refugees’ migration biographies and social integration in Norway is linked to broader issue of family membership and gender roles. Drawing on qualitative data and interviews with refugees, paper show how refugees’ family situation influence refugees’ social integration in exile, their perspectives on mainstream society and home country, inclusive their attitudes toward repatriation. It is argued in the paper that single refugees are more exposed to feelings of loneliness and social marginality in relation to the mainstream than refugees who are in exile together with their families and children. The paper maintains that in some cases, family members may facilitate integration into Norwegian networks. Among other things, family members may appear as family networking teams who simultaneously reproduce ties along the lines of a common family affiliation and bridge across ethnic groups. As members of such a team, family members will help to expand each other’s personal networks through joined networking activities. Finally, the findings also indicate that certain categories of refugee women who come to Norway through procedures for family reunion may be strongly dependant on their husbands, ending up in traditional gender roles and segregated social networks. The presented findings have potential implications for repatriation schemes and integration policies.
KEY WORDS: refugees, family relations, female dependence, family reunion, social integration

Book Review is published on SLO pages.

Book Review is published on SLO pages.

Article is published on SLO pages.

Article is published on SLO pages.