Preliminary communication
Second-Generation Migrants or the Need of Creating a Realistic Migration-Related Picture of Oneself
Aleksa Milojević
; Institute of Economics, Banja Luka, Yugoslavia
Abstract
In the first part of the work the author deals with the problems of second-generation migrants in the belief that a discussion of migrant children can contribute to the creation of a realistic picture of migration, i.e. of a change in migratory scope. Labour migration is, in a way, turning into emigration, but in terms of education migrant children are even worse off than the parents' generation vis-à-vis their future in the countries of immigration. Besides, their burden pertaining to the problem of identity is more stressed than in the case of the parents' generation. The desire of migrant children to return to the country of origin (of the parents) is decreasing, although they do not fully accept the host country, either. This dilemma actually constitutes a part of entire changes in migratory qualities. In this connection, the question of temporariness of migrants' stay abroad is problematized in the second part of the work. It is explained that Yugoslav migrants' “term” abroad is very long, that theirs is a high level of assimilation in the countries of immigration, and that return flows are below average, despite the desires of the migrants themselves and the efforts of Yugoslavia. In other words, migration tends to be of a long duration, whereas the concept of temporariness does not reflect the real situation but is a reflection of politics. In the author's belief, a more exhaustive discussion should be started because Yugoslavia's migration policy lags behind the policies of the industrial (immigration) countries. The initial principles of seeing migration as a booming phenomenon are adhered to, while such a position is abandoned by the policies of the immi¬gration countries. The countries concerned now work on integrating and assimilating second-generation migrants in particular, being conscious of the role of young people in development. The author's conclusion is that a definition of migrant reality should be reached and that a more realistic migration-related picture should be created.
Keywords
children of migrants; identity; migration policy; Yugoslavs
Hrčak ID:
128783
URI
Publication date:
28.11.1986.
Visits: 1.969 *