Post‐return experiences and transnational belonging of return migrants: a Dutch—Moroccan case study

Abstract

In this article we explore the links between return migration, belonging and transnationalism among migrants who returned from the Netherlands to northeast Morocco. While transnationalism is commonly discussed from the perspective of a receiving country, this study shows that transnationalism also plays a vital role in reconstructing post‐return belonging. Return migration is not simply a matter of ‘going home’, as feelings of belonging need to be renegotiated upon return. While returnees generally feel a strong need to maintain various transnational practices, the meanings they attach to these practices depend on motivations for return, gender and age. For former (male) labour migrants, transnational practices are essential for establishing post‐return belonging, whereas such practices are less important for their spouses. Those who returned as children generally feel uprooted, notwithstanding the transnational practices they maintain. The amount of agency migrants are able to exert in the return decision‐making process is a key factor in determining the extent to which returnees can create a post‐return transnational sense of home.

Ageing ‘Here’ or ‘There’? Spatiotemporalities in Older Labour Migrants’ Return Aspirations From the Azores

“…It is therefore crucial to go beyond traditional approaches opposing integration and transnationalism, and recognise that return aspirations are multi -stranded, time -fluid, space -induced, and context -dependent. Return is thus a multifaceted phenomenon that encompasses a multiplicity of individual, family and structure--related motivations shaped by both spatial and temporal dimensions (Constant & Massey, 2002;De Bree, Davids & De Haas, 2010;De Haas & Fokkema, 2010).…”

Diaspora of Diaspora: Adyge-Abkhaz Returnees in the Ancestral Homeland

“…their parents, sisters, brothers, and children when they move to the homeland. Although other studies (e.g., Conway and Potter 2009;De Bree, Davids, and de Haas 2010) have shown that this created a different type of transnationalism after return and influenced postreturn adjustment in the homeland, for the Adyge-Abkhaz diaspora the visits to the diaspora settlements have a political, social, and cultural meaning. For some, the repeated visits can be explained through transnationalism as a result of increased and cheaper transportation.…”

Forced transnationalism: transnational coping strategies and gendered stigma among Jamaican deportees

“…Although the deportees I studied were primarily male not female, they too rely heavily on transnational material and affective ties. Scholars have found that return migrants use transnational strategies to gain social status (Goldring 1998) and to create a sense of belonging on returning home (de Bree et al 2010). The shame associated with deportation means that transnational ties do not bring social status to deportees.…”

“…The relative rarity of habitual transnationalism raises the question of why only some migrants use transnational strategies. Transnational practices refer to cross-border practices and include activities that literally and symbolically cross national borders, meaning that migrants need not travel to participate in them (de Bree et al 2010). This is pertinent for deportees, whose international travel is often greatly restricted.…”