Contemporary Migration Studies as a Multi-dimensional Jigsaw (original) (raw)
Related papers
The experience of migration and spheres of social life: economics, politics, media and literature
This article takes the form of a synthetic outline of research work done into the topic of Polish migration taking place since the 1 st of May 2004. In the first two sections, the author presents aspects of post-ascension migration in the context of contemporary global migration trends, as well as specific aspects of the wave of Poles leaving their country after its accession to the EU, in relation to previous such waves. In subsequent sections, the author adopts a two-dimensional perspective, separating the presented materials between research which takes on an inter-subjective perspective, the socio-cultural experiences of those migrating in the spirit of Alfred Schütz's phenomenology, as well as research conducted from a macro perspective, encompassing selected spheres of social life (Jeffrey Alexander): the economics, politics and media, applying a specific focus on research into the literary sphere. In section one, devoted to the socio-cultural experience of migration, the author presents the most important aspects of the research so far, describing some in greater detail, including: identity, relations in single and mixed ethnicity groups, diaspora, integration, social and professional mobility, cultural capital, family ties and reintegration. In the section devoted to migration research from the perspective of social ties the focus is on areas such as: problems of economic aspects and effectiveness of migration, migration politics in relation to migrants, diasporas and return migrants, as well as media narratives and images of the most recent waves of migration from Poland. The author closes with a brief attempt to outline the course and further prospects of research into the links between migration and the sphere of literature.
Politicization of the Migration Phenomenon in Poland
Proceedings of the 5th ACADEMOS Conference 2018 Development, Democracy and Society in the Contemporary World, 2018
The article presents the subject of the politicization of the migration phenomenon in Poland. Politicization is defined as the process by which a given social phenomenon gains the status of a political issue, i.e. it becomes the subject of both the regulations of the state as well as of the broad debate taking place in the public and political spheres. In recent years in Poland, two important phenomena have emerged in the area of migration issues: firstly, there has been observed a radical increase in the number of foreigners, primarily Ukrainians, employed in the Polish economy; secondly, Europe has been affected by the migration crisis, which made the EU members, including Poland, face a number of challenges. While the real influx of workers from Ukraine did not reverberate in the Polish public and political discourse, the potential inflow of several thousand refugees from Africa and the Middle East to a large extent basically dominated the Polish migration discourse and became one of the most important issues raised in the political and public space. The present article has been formulated on the basis of the analysis of source literature, party, press and electronic materials; expert reports, legal acts and statements of politicians.
The contemporary migratory movement in the European Union: challenges and benefits for Poland
Revista Justiça do Direito
One of the main destinations for people who leave their homes whether voluntarily or forced is the European Union. It can be observed that both in voluntary andforced migrations, and especially in the second one, the European Union is the final destination of these displaced persons. However, the absence of an efficientmigratory policy, has generated a chaotic scenario of illegal immigrants, disrespect for international regulations, and deprecated lives for economic reasons.The aim is to demonstrate that the EU's asylum policy is not adequate and needs reform. Using the deductive approac h and bibliographic technique and data anal-ysis, the work presents the difficulties of a concise European Union policy on immigration and its effects in Poland.
Theorizing Polish Migration across Europe: Perspectives, Concepts, and Methodologies
With the focus on the post-2004 mobility of Polish citizens, in this article we discuss two interrelated questions; namely, what are the most productive ways to theorize contemporary Polish migration, and what are the most fruitful methodologies aimed at understanding Polish migration and Poles on the move? In the first part of this article we unpack three interrelated theoretical frameworks: ‘liquid migration’, ‘regimes of mobility,’ and ‘transnationalism’. The methodological discussion in the second part of the article focuses mainly on outlining and contextualizing the most common approaches to migration phenomena. By critically introducing quantitative and qualitative methodologies, we explore and indicate the advantages of the ethnographic perspective and the merits and predicaments of research engagement in multiple sites.
2018
The results presented in the paper comprise the outcome of five projects carried out in the years 2000-2012. The inspiration for the preparation of a comparative analysis and ‘going across’ the acquired data was the similarity between the semantic categories ‘extracted’ from each subsequent portion of the material collected in the selected projects. This led to the formation of a collective, qualitative case study in the sense coined by Robert Stake (2005), in which I set the goal of monitoring the process of redefining the meaning that the narrators (affected indirectly or directly by contemporary migration processes) attribute to identity and dignity. Both these categories are the result of the analyses and interpretation of the gathered empirical material, and not concepts imposed a priori. They are also hulled from the entire collection of meanings assigned by the interlocutors to the experiences of their life and their selected “biographical episodes.”1
Theorizing Migration Across Europe: Perspectives, Concepts, and Mthodologies
With the focus on the post-2004 mobility of Polish citizens, in this article we discuss two interrelated questions; namely, what are the most productive ways to theorize contemporary Polish migration, and what are the most fruitful methodologies aimed at understanding Polish migration and Poles on the move? In the first part of this article we unpack three inter- related theoretical frameworks: ‘liquid migration,’ ‘regimes of mobility,’ and ‘transnationalism.’ The methodological discus- sion in the second part of the article focuses mainly on outlining and contextualizing the most common approaches to migration phenomena. by critically introducing quantitative and qualitative methodologies, we explore and indicate the advantages of the ethnographic perspective and the merits and predicaments of research engagement in multiple sites.
Polish Contemporary Migration: From Co-migrants to Project ME
International Migration, 2014
International migration mirrors contemporary society in all its complexity. What has not changed for centuries is the principal motif: people leave their country of origin hoping for a better life. Poland has a long history of emigration: Poles have been migrating for more than 200 years for political, economic and social reasons. In recent decades, Polish migration patterns have undergone dramatic changes. Using online survey data, this article explores new trends in Polish migration since the country's accession to the European Union in 2004. The survey was focused on Polish migrants who stayed abroad for some time, those who stayed abroad before the accession, those who returned to Poland or those who experienced multiple travels and have an ongoing migration project. We conclude that new trends have emerged among Polish migrants. Contemporary migrants are aware of the benefits related to migration and are capable of implementing their migration project quite skilfully. Their high susceptibility to the economic setting proves their flexibility. Polish migrants highly value their new lifestyle abroad and consider friends their most important source of support.
Polish Graduates: Migration and Its Media Representations
Polish Sociological Review, 2015
The aim of the paper is to present the results of research into the dominant media discourses on post-accession migration within the context of the economic and socio-cultural situation of Polish University graduates. The first part of the article—based on an analysis of statistical data and recent studies—relates to the historical context of the educational boom in the late 1990s that led to the 'de-valuation of the degree diploma', an increase in unemployment and increased numbers of tertiary-level educated Poles leaving Poland post 2004. The second part relates to the media debate on young migrants understood as a significant sphere (Jeffrey Alexander) in the construction of 'common knowledge' on migration and the 'trigger' transferring particular issues of migration into the 'civic sphere'. This part is based on an extensive content analysis of migration representations as seen in four weekly magazines between 2004 and 2012 and a narrative analysis of two TV series: 'Londyńczycy' and 'Wyjechani'. The media debate includes such issues as: young migrants' careers abroad, cultural capital accumu-lation/waste, family break-ups, and the effects of migration at a local and national level. The analysis reveals the interplay between media representations/narratives and popular academic conceptual-izations of the effect of migration on young graduates: the 'crowding out hypothesis' (Okólski) and double-marginalization (Iglicka) which are a part of the 'brain waste versus brain gain' discourse. The analysis reveals the main mechanisms of media representations: idealization (American Dream pattern of migrants' careers), dramatization leading to 'moral panics' (Euro-orphans, family break-ups) and negotiation with the dominant conceptualizations in the 'civic sphere' ('U-shape' migrants' careers).
Kultura - Przemiany - Edukacja, 2016
The article aims to present the attitude of the Polish society towards the phenomenon of migration, including the issue of approving people differing from Poland in terms of culture and ethnicity. The author outlines the phenomenon, characterises specificity of the country as one that is ethnically homogenous, indicates Poles' migratory experience and the society's a cceptance of migratory trips, mainly for gainful employment. Finally, the author indicates what Poles' standpoints are towards foreigners. This is illustrated with official statistical data and own surveys.