Ine Lietaert
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Perspectives on return migration: A multi-sited, longitudinal study on the return processes of Armenian and Georgian migrants Ine Lietaert Promotor: Prof. dr. Ilse Derluyn Co-promotor: Prof. dr. Eric Broekaert Proefschrift ingediend tot het behalen van de academische graad van Doctor in het Sociaal Werk 2016 Guidance Committee Prof. dr. Ilse Derluyn (promotor) Ghent University, Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy Prof. dr. Eric Broekaert (co-promotor) Ghent University, Department of Special Needs Education Prof. dr. Claudia Claes University College Ghent, Department of Orthopedagogy-Special Education Prof. dr. Michel Vandenbroeck Ghent University, Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy Examination Committee Prof. dr. Geert De Soete (chair) Ghent University, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences Prof. dr. Claudia Claes University College Ghent, Department of Orthopedagogy-Special Education Prof. dr. Michel Vandenbroeck Ghent University, Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy Dr. Marieke van Houte University of Oxford, International Migration Institute Prof. dr. Paul Statham University of Sussex, Sussex Centre for Migration Research Acknowledgements Acknowledgements When starting to write these first and at the same time last words of my dissertation, a journey has come to its end. I look back at four amazing, challenging and inspiring years, and realize how fortunate I am that so many people supported and guided me in accomplishing this research. Above all, I am deeply grateful to all participants. Thank you for your trust and for letting me enter your houses, and your lives, and for sharing your perspectives and your stories. Thank you for showing me the beauty of the Armenian and Georgian hospitality, yet also sharing with me your difficulties and sorrows. Your courage and strength has been a huge inspiration for me. I truly hope you will find that peace of mind and security you were looking for. Gaumardjos! I owe endless gratitude and respect to my promoter Prof. dr. Ilse Derluyn. Dear Ilse, thank you for embracing the special theme I wanted to study and for always believing in me. For triggering me each time to look a bit further, yet stay focused. For your continuous helpful feedback, for being closely involved in every stage of the research process and for always caring about me as a researcher and as a person. Thanks to the members of my guidance committee, Prof. dr. Eric Broekaert, Prof. dr. Michel Vandenbroeck and Prof. dr. Claudia Claes, for your inspiring questions, positive and constructive comments and valuable advice, which always helped me to broaden my perspective. I am thankful to all the people who facilitated the realization of this research. My sincerest thanks to Anne Dussart, for the trust and the many opportunities you gave me, for your enthusiasm about the project and your ever-thoughtful insights. Special thanks also to Tigranuhi, Armen, Yeva, Tata, David and Prashikshya, for the great guidance, your patience and perseverance, for the countless hours ‘on the route’, the interesting conversations and your perspectives and wisdom. Thanks to Liana and Movses for your support and for always welcoming me. Many thanks to Gulie, for sharing the first journey to Georgia with me, and to all the interpreters who cooperated in the research. I feel fortunate in having had so many wonderful colleagues over the last four years. Many thanks to all the colleagues at Caritas. Special thanks to Annelieke, Sofie, Hermien, Thomas, Stefanie and Sandra, for keeping me closely connected with the practice, for ‘enduring’ my presence in the office, for your valuable reflections and for the countless memorable joyful moments. Thanks to all my past and present colleagues from the Deparmtent of Special Needs Education and the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, for the inspiring atmosphere, i Acknowledgements the interest in my research, the encouragements and the practical help. Thanks especially to my ‘fugee’ colleagues for the enriching exchange of experiences and your warm friendship. Sofie, An and Marianne, thank you for guiding me through the research process and for setting a great example in various ways. Floor, Leen, Julie, Indra and Ines, thank you for always being able to rely on you. Special thanks to the colleagues with whom I shared the office over the years. Elias, Dries, Katrien, Tineke, Eline, Katrien, Jochen and Bert, I feel privileged to have worked so closely together with you and I am deeply grateful for your friendship. Thank you Tineke and Jochen for being the best support team one can imagine during the last months of the research. Thanks to my parents for your faith in me and your endless support in so many different ways. Thanks to my family, family-in-law and friends for your interest and encouragement over the years. Special thanks to Griet for the extra help and stimulating words during the final stage. Jakob and Theo, my wonderful sons, thank you for all the joy and laughter, and for making me feel so proud and blessed. Jeffrey, I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to you. Thanks for supporting me through this adventure, and even following me to the field. Thank you so much for your love and patience, for being at my side, always and at any time. Thanks for being you. Ine March, 2016 ii Table of contents Table of Contents 1 General introduction ................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Return migration ................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Policy context and policy discourses on return migration ................................. 9 1.2.1 ‘Discovering return migration’ .............................................................................. 10 1.2.2 The problem of non-return: Development of return migration policies ............................................................................................................................. 11 1.2.2 The management of migration: Efficiency of return policy ...................... 12 1.3 Assisted voluntary return support ............................................................................. 14 1.3.1 Voluntariness ................................................................................................................ 15 1.3.2 Sustainability ................................................................................................................. 16 1.3.3 Assisted voluntary return programmes in the EU ........................................ 18 1.3.4 The Belgian AVR programme ................................................................................. 19 1.4 Understanding return migration ................................................................................. 23 1.4.1 Return migration in migration theories ............................................................ 23 1.4.2 Pre-return: The return decision process .......................................................... 24 1.4.3 Post-return experiences ........................................................................................... 25 1.5 Research gaps ...................................................................................................................... 29 1.6 Problem statement, research questions and aims ............................................... 30 1.6.1 Problem statement ..................................................................................................... 30 1.6.2 Research questions ..................................................................................................... 31 1.6.3 Research aims ............................................................................................................... 31 1.7 Methodological framework of the study .................................................................. 32 1.7.1 Lived experiences of return .................................................................................... 32 1.7.2 Multi-sited and longitudinal design .................................................................... 33 1.7.3 Research design ........................................................................................................... 34 1.7.4 Ethical considerations ............................................................................................... 39 1.7.5 Overview of the chapters ......................................................................................... 42 2 Returnees’ perspectives on their re-migration processes .......................... 55 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 59 2.2 Methods .................................................................................................................................. 62 1 Table of contents 2.2.1 The study setting and participants ...................................................................... 62 2.2.2 Data collection and analysis ................................................................................... 64 2.3 Migration cycle .................................................................................................................... 64 2.3.1 Longing for change (1) – The decision to leave Nepal ................................ 64 2.3.2 No change? (1) – The living situation in Belgium ......................................... 65 2.3.3 Longing for