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Transnationalism in the Family Biographies of Polish Post-accession Migrants from the Perspective of Family Trajectories in the Context of Return Decisions
Abstract
The article analyses the issue of transnational experiences and family practices among Polish post-accession migrants in Great Britain, focusing on their significance in the context of the decision to return to their country of origin. The primary objective was to examine how maintaining contact and engaging in daily cross-border practices influence families' long-term life plans and how these factors contribute to the decision regarding a potential return to Poland. The article addresses a gap in social research, which often neglects this area in favour of economic and political issues, instead focusing on the dynamics of family life within the context of re-emigration processes.
The research was conducted among 20 Polish migrants (women and men aged 28–48) residing in South East England. The criteria for participation included: having children, being in a formal marriage, and a declared willingness to return to the country. The narrative biographical interview technique was employed as the research method, allowing for the collection of detailed stories about the participants' lives and family experiences. The research was carried out during the Brexit period, in an atmosphere of increasing uncertainty regarding the future in the British Isles.
The analysis revealed that the mechanisms for maintaining ties over distance (e.g., internet communication, travel) change their significance over the time spent in emigration. Initially, they primarily alleviate longing, but over time, they become an impetus for a deeper reflection on the purpose of further stay and the family's future. It was observed that political events (brexit) and dilemmas related to raising children (preserving Polish identity and language) intensified internal conflicts and a sense of lack of control over the situation. For some families, efforts related to cultivating Polish identity (e.g., language learning) transform into a consciously realised return plan, allowing participants to regain a sense of agency. The migratory experience and associated family life are characterised by elements of a trajectory – a process in which uncontrolled events affect the collective (the family) and necessitate a revision of original assumptions. Historical factors, the family life cycle, and personal agency mutually influence how transnational families deal with the dilemma of returning or settling permanently.
Keywords:
family trajectory, family biography, migratory biography, bonding practices, re-emigrationDetails
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
