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Eastern European Emigration: an Analysis of the Exodus of Eastern Europeans

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Eastern European Emigration: an Analysis of the Exodus of Eastern Europeans Running Head: EUROPEAN EMIGRATION 1 Eastern European Emigration: An Analysis of The Exodus of Eastern Europeans Jacob A. Boisse California Maritime Academy EASTERN EUROPEAN EMIGRATION 2 Abstract The human race is a migratory species at its core and has utilized migration as a means to spread all over the Earth. The reason many decide to get up and move is dependent upon social and economic factors that push or pull individuals. Migration and emigration are consistent factors throughout the world, but one point of interest is in Europe. Europe has long been a breeding ground for various cultures to come together and experience one another. Throughout European history, populations have been uprooted and moved on their own accord. The large phases of European emigration started with the industrial revolution as Europeans moved to the New World to start over. However, in recent history, the World Wars, Interwar years, and the Cold War would all bring about the mass emigration of many groups of people. Xenophobia towards ethnic minorities would result in the deportations of those people, and weak economies would be the primary driver for modern-day Europeans to leave their nations of origin. The consequences faced by countries with dwindling populations include brain drain, lack of economic growth, and the pressures to take care of an aging population. These are the main issues that accompany emigration, and various states throughout Eastern and Central Europe have developed ways to attract their people back. Although that is the case, there has not been much progress with that and people continue to leave, but most of them have the desire to return. It is not a surprise to find that why people go is economical, at least regarding the new millennium, and that they have no choice in their decision. EASTERN EUROPEAN EMIGRATION 3 Introduction Throughout history, the many populations of the world have moved about for a variety of reasons. Whether that is actual immigration or emigration depends on the circumstances. For a long time, Europe has been the epicenter of immigration and emigration. This thesis covers the analysis of European departure from the 1950s to the new millennium and the factors that drive people to leave their homes for foreign nations. Since the beginning of the Cold War, the ex- Soviet states have never honestly been on the same level economically with their Western European counterparts. Economic desolation is more than likely the main reason why so many leave in the first place and along with that, the looming threat of aging populations in Europe is pushing governments to come up with ways of bringing back their youngest and brightest. Most of these states have small communities, to begin with, such as countries like Lithuania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania. These are examples of states experiencing "brain drain" due to their weak economies, and therefore they lack opportunities. The concept of brain drain is a term that has been used more often in the modern era. It involves a country’s loss of its young and highly educated individuals because of either economic or social issues. Even so, with the decrease in eastern European populations, the vast refugee crisis of today in the Middle East and North Africa does hold some promise. However, most ex-Soviet states are against taking in immigrants even though it is a plausible solution to curb their dwindling populations. These nations have their way of trying to solve the problem at hand based on moral and societal values. Today's world is defined by the threats of global warming, turbulent political structures, and a looming threat to population growth along with its consequences. Many people have negative outlooks on the future of human civilization and along with dwindling resources do not see much change happening. A great deal of effort is put into solving these issues. These current EASTERN EUROPEAN EMIGRATION 4 issues in the world are not the only problems presenting themselves right now. Many other matters including famine, civil war, and the consistent threat of pathological diseases all have their time the spotlight. On the other hand, other global issues are occurring which contradict the worries of many individuals. Immigration and emigration have always been prevalent throughout human history, and it will still be a relevant topic if humans continue to exist on this earth for the next two hundred years. Migrants have been viewed as a detriment to the host country only because of their differences. A prime example of this is the different waves of immigrants that have come to the United States in its concise history. They have all faced problems by showing up to American shores, yet none understand the reasons immigrants leave their homes in the first place. Many flee for economic reasons and others because of persecution in their native land. The search for new opportunities, however, is similar among all of them. Europe has a rich history of migratory populations from the countless wars, famines, and the search for new exploits among themselves. It is common knowledge that a copious number of European immigrants came to the United States. The mass migration was a result of European dominance on the continent and as a direct result of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. The massive exodus of western Europeans to the Americas was the defining event of the 18th and 19th centuries, and although numbers were significant, population pressures were not relevant. History has not repeated itself in this region, and the opposite is occurring in eastern Europe. Eastern European states have been under significant pressure as many of their young intellectuals have been leaving ever since the countries broke free of Soviet dominance in the 1990s. The transition to democratic governments allowed people to move about with less restriction and now that a majority of ex-Soviet satellite states have joined the European Union, emigrating to other EASTERN EUROPEAN EMIGRATION 5 E.U. member states is now forever a right of Eastern Europeans. Many European nations are currently struggling with shrinking populations due to their economic, political, and social conditions affecting how the country works. The consequences of mass emigration are far one of the leading priorities of the governments concerns. The Collectivist Mindset At the end of World War One, the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires took place, granting independence to countries like Poland, Estonia, and Czechoslovakia. The nations of Eastern Europe, despite their freedom, were subject to growing spheres of influence from Germany in the west and the Soviet Union in the east. In the decades following the armistice, those nations became the primary targets for conquest. The Allied victory at the end of World War II once again set free most of the eastern European states. However, all the liberating forces in the east were Soviet, and Stalin had his agenda to work against the western powers. Stalin started to form the Eastern Bloc in the late stages of the war by annexing those countries on its immediate border as the Soviet Socialist Republic states to create an inner buffer zone. The rest of Eastern Europe soon followed suit as most them became satellite states which in turn created their replicas of a Soviet style of governance. To the Soviets, these states’ primary purpose was to serve as an outer buffer zone against the western powers and their influence. It varied among the republics, but the conditions were, of course, worse than that of their western counterparts. Citizens within the Eastern Bloc earned less than that of their western peers as well as having the means to advance regarding jobs was virtually non-existent. Most of the emphasis on society was put towards the "motherland," of the Soviet Union. The eastern bloc lost a sense EASTERN EUROPEAN EMIGRATION 6 of individuality in most aspects of government. Thus, these satellite states were second class to the overall agenda of the communist regime, and they suffered because of it. The conditions within the eastern bloc were less than favorable compared to other regions in the world as low wages, scarce job opportunities, and small means to progress overall. It is no surprise that millions of people left the area in the years following the end of the Second World War. Even before the start of the conflict, the USSR had already implemented emigration restrictions on its citizens. It is important to note that the role of how governments behaved had fundamentally changed by this point in time. The Great War had long-lasting effects on how nations identify with one another, and for all them, it was the rise of nationalism. For example, France is for the French just as much as Czechoslovakia belonged to the Czechoslovaks (Dowty, 1989). Even with later problems that arose from that terrible conflict such as low birth rates and workforce shortages, the fear of immigration was ever prevalent. Although it was a suitable solution to solve the issue of the workforce and meet the demands of many nations, the desire for ethnic homogeneity was at the top of its peak. Therefore, anyone who wanted to emigrate from their home state was traitorous (Dowty, 1989). The belief in these nationalistic ideals to cement a particular point of view and ensured its longevity ensured the further development of narrow minded societies. It is not hard to see how the collectivist minds of the Soviet Union started to take root and eventually how this process progressed. There are no longer individuals in society but instead “bee workers in a hive.” The central importance of community is the progression of the state, not the people.
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