Keywords: return migration, migration experience, subjective well-being, comparative analysis, European Union
Abstract
How is the well-being of returnees when considered from the point of view of the migration experience abroad? To answer this question, the first hypothesis considers that returnees differ in the function of the key activity they had abroad – working, studying or living there without working or studying. Secondly, even if one maintains constant socio-demographic profiles, the country of return counts. Thirdly, it depends also on the facet of subjective well-being (SWB) that is considered – the happiness of living in a certain country of the European Union or a person’s satisfaction with life, country, public services or income. The results of the multivariate analysis indicate that experience of migration, country of current residence and facets of SWB all count. Returnees – through their experience of migration abroad – are compared to non-migrants. The answers come from analysing data from a large Eurobarometer survey in the European Union. Multivariate regression and cluster analysis are the main data-processing procedures. The stability of the results is tested by sensitivity analysis.
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.
Keywords: hospitality, 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Poland, refugees, hosting
Abstract
Hosting large numbers of refugees in private homes rather than in refugee camps is a fairly unusual phenomenon in the broadly understood Western context, including the post-socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Thus, explorative research is much needed to determine the fundamental problems triggered by this novel situation. Based on a series of individual in-depth interviews with Polish hosts who invited Ukrainian refugees to live in their homes, this paper puts under scrutiny the micro-relations between the hosts and the guests. The study identified 6 kinds of ‘difficulty’, including (1) negotiating everyday routines, (2) dealing with difficult life situations and stress, (3) quarrels and divisions among migrants, (4) neglecting one’s own family, (5) a too strong emotional attachment to the guests and (6) irreconcilable sets of expectations.
The Central and Eastern European Migration Review (CEEMR) is an international, multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed, diamond open-access journal dedicated to promoting academic discussion on scholarly works and research on migration from, in and to the region of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It is indexed in various international databases, including Scopus and the ESCI Web of Science Core Collection.
In connection with the recent IMISCOE migration conference in Poland, hosting so many inspiring contributions and important debates on various processes and problems related to migration to/from/within Central and Eastern Europe, our journal invites proposals for Special Sections for the years 2024 and 2025.