THE POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF RETURN MIGRATIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF RETURNEES

Bara, Mario; Mesarić Žabčić, Rebeka; Geiger Zeman, Marija

doi:10.31953/sz.52.1.11

The Anthology of Senj: contributions to geography, ethnology, economy, history and culture, Vol. 52 No. 1, 2025.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.31953/sz.52.1.11

THE POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF RETURN MIGRATIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF RETURNEES

Mario Bara orcid.org/0000-0002-9964-7802 ; Catholic University of Croatia
Rebeka Mesarić Žabčić ; The Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar
Marija Geiger Zeman ; The Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar

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cite

APA 6th Edition

Bara, M., Mesarić Žabčić, R. & Geiger Zeman, M. (2025). THE POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF RETURN MIGRATIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF RETURNEES. Senjski zbornik, 52 (1), 262-262. https://doi.org/10.31953/sz.52.1.11

MLA 8th Edition

Bara, Mario, et al. "THE POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF RETURN MIGRATIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF RETURNEES." Senjski zbornik, vol. 52, no. 1, 2025, pp. 262-262. https://doi.org/10.31953/sz.52.1.11. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Chicago 17th Edition

Bara, Mario, Rebeka Mesarić Žabčić and Marija Geiger Zeman. "THE POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF RETURN MIGRATIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF RETURNEES." Senjski zbornik 52, no. 1 (2025): 262-262. https://doi.org/10.31953/sz.52.1.11

Harvard

Bara, M., Mesarić Žabčić, R., and Geiger Zeman, M. (2025). 'THE POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF RETURN MIGRATIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF RETURNEES', Senjski zbornik, 52(1), pp. 262-262. https://doi.org/10.31953/sz.52.1.11

Vancouver

Bara M, Mesarić Žabčić R, Geiger Zeman M. THE POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF RETURN MIGRATIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF RETURNEES. Senjski zbornik [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2026 July 24];52(1):262-262. https://doi.org/10.31953/sz.52.1.11

IEEE

M. Bara, R. Mesarić Žabčić and M. Geiger Zeman, "THE POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF RETURN MIGRATIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF RETURNEES", Senjski zbornik, vol.52, no. 1, pp. 262-262, 2025. [Online]. https://doi.org/10.31953/sz.52.1.11

Abstract

This paper investigates return migrations to Croatia via interviews with returnees and potential returnees. The aim was to understand the reasons for returning, the challenges of reintegration, and the role of social networks, socioeconomic factors and transnational connections in the decision to return and the preparations for returning. Using theories of social networks and transnationalism, the paper recognises returnees as a developmental potential due to the acquired capital (human, economic, cultural, symbolic). The results show that those who had prepared and maintained ties with their homeland were more successful. Key challenges included administrative obstacles, the mismatching of qualifications, culture shock and disappointments. The paper proposes models of reintegration and recommendations for strengthening institutional support, highlighting return migration as a complex process with positive developmental potential for Croatia.