The Impact of Socio-Cultural Integration on Return Intentions: Evidence from a Survey on Romanian Migrants

Abstract

This article analyzes the impact of socio-cultural integration on migrants' intention to return to their country of origin. It distinguishes between the potential effects of inter-ethnic relations, language proficiency and perception of discrimination as components of integration. It uses individual-level data collected through an original survey among Romanian migrants in January 2018. It aims to test the effects of socio-cultural integration against those of alternative explanations provided in the literature. The findings indicate that the perception of discrimination, assessment of public institutions' performance and belonging feelings are important predictors for return intentions.

Diverse Ways of Thinking and Performing Return Migration: Colombians and Romanians in Europe

“…This could be because Romania experienced economic downturn, and due to the slow adoption of return programmes, with Romania's Diaspora Start-Up entrepreneurial initiative launched only in 2016. However, our study finds that native anti-immigrant attitudes in host countries (which have increased since the crisis), and feelings of belonging towards home/host can influence return migration or remigration (see also Gherghina et al, 2020), either as temporary or permanent strategies.…”

“…Some studies have started to explore this for third‐country nationals, for example within African migration to Europe (Schapendonk and Steel, 2014; Jolivet, 2019). Others have focused on east‐west return mobilities (Parutis, 2013; White, 2013; Gherghina et al, 2020). In this article, we investigate the factors influencing return considerations and practices among Romanian migrants in London and Paris and Colombian nationals in London, Madrid and Brussels, as they experience hostile socio‐economic and political conditions following the 2008 crisis (Pratsinakis et al, 2019).…”

“…Belonging, both in relation to pull (family values and social connections) and push factors (discrimination), is one of the main determinants of return for Romanian interviewees (see also Gherghina et al, 2020). However, once back in Romania, these factors can be superseded by economic challenges, especially in relation to access to well‐paid jobs.…”

Childhood memories of belonging among young Romanian migrants in Italy: A qualitative life-course approach

“…The opposite was true in cases of self-imposed disassociation. Closed bonding networks lead to a lower level of belonging and higher motivation to return to the country of origin, while bridging networks are associated to higher levels of belonging (Gherghina et al, 2020). Despite this, as illustrated by Diana's testimonial, the more time children spend in Italy, the more similar to Italian peers they become (Gabrielli et al, 2013), even without realizing it.…”

“…Diana might have witnessed racist behavior, not only towards other Romanian migrant children in school, but also in her larger social network. As shown by Gherghina et al (2020), perception of discrimination and lack of belonging to the majority are the strongest predictor of Romanian migrants' intention of returning to their country of origin. Also, having maintained a quite close relationship with her Romanian childhood friends, Diana fell in love with one of them and decided "to go home" to Romania.…”