Suchergebnisse

AbstractThis article discusses the difference between the construction of national and local identifications related to the new place of residence. It shows that local identification is more inclusive than national, and therefore may be a key to strengthening social cohesion. National and local identities can both be seen as forms of place identification (i.e., of spatial or territorial identity). The article builds on qualitative research on highly skilled migrants living in Wrocław, Poland. The empirical data shows that these migrants would rather obtain a city identification and call themselves Wrocławianie (inhabitants of Wrocław), and do not want, or only partially want, Polish national identity. Living in and experiencing Wrocław makes them feel like insiders, while experiencing Poland positions them as outsiders. While national identity is built around the difference between "us" and "them", local identity focuses on gaining knowledge about the particularity of a place and therefore allows for acceptance of heterogeneity and is easier for migrants to obtain.

AbstractPoland is currently characterized by no migration policy in a form of an officially approved document as well as by the dominating anti‐immigrant rhetoric expressed by the ruling party leaders. The aim of this paper was to show how Polish cities deal with the unprecedented migration influx in the context of lack of officially approved national level strategy. As the cities' authorities attitudes vary from accepting migration as economically beneficial to treating migrants as part of the urban population, the unclear state policy is recognized by some as a silent permission of the state to incorporate of migrants. Officially it could not be seen a part of state policy as it is contradicting the anti‐immigration rhetoric. Our paper shows also how the cities' policies clash with the state approach and policies, in particular at the local level, where the state administration may jeopardize the welcoming messages sent by city authorities towards migrants.

This paper presents a comparative study of cities' migration policies. By comparing four bigger and four smaller Polish cities and their approaches towards Ukrainian war refugees, we show the differences in support offered by bigger and smaller towns. Polish cities wholeheartedly and spontaneously welcomed Ukrainians fleeing their country after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While bigger cities start from reception and then offer integration activities, smaller ones see the presence of Ukrainians as temporary and identify their needs in terms of immediate humanitarian aid. The extra value of this original research is in documenting the specific moment when those cities have become ethnically diverse. The research includes interviews with the cities' authorities, panel discussions, and analyses of documents and press articles.

AbstractThe article explores investment decisions made by Israelis who purchased or intended to purchase a residential property in Poland. Specifically, it focuses on their set of motivations to invest there and the extent to which their ethno‐national or other types of affinity with the country played a role in their decision. Drawing on interviews with (Jewish) Israeli citizens, we argue that their Choice to invest in Poland was not only financial but influenced also by strong emotional connections to the country, a combination we term 'sentrumental' (instrumental and sentimental). We contend that the decision of Israeli Jews to buy property in Poland, against the historical backdrop of the traumatic experience of Jews there, is highly contentious. Analyzing the discursive strategies they use to explain, indeed justify, their unorthodox decision, we show how their emotional ties to Poland often conflict with its controversial history and their own personal identities. It is this conflict, we conclude, that makes Israeli Jews with various biographical ties to Poland an inherently ambivalent elective diaspora.