The Population of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland
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The population of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland Bashkim Iseni, Didier Ruedin, Dina Bader, Denise Efionayi-Mäder Contents Imprint Preamble 5 1 Introduction 6 Published by: Federal Office for Migration (FOM), Quellenweg 6, CH-3003 Bern-Wabern 2 Bosnia and Herzegovina 12 www.bfm.admin.ch 2.1 History of Bosnia and Herzegovina 14 Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) 2.2 Ethnic diversity 22 Freiburgstrasse 130, 3003 Bern 2.3 Three waves of migration to Switzerland 25 www.deza.admin.ch 3 Socio-demographic characteristics of BiH This research project was carried out by the University of Neuchâtel’s nationals living in Switzerland 34 Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies (SFM) on behalf 3.1 Official figures and unofficial estimates 36 of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the 3.2 Demographic movements 40 Federal Office for Migration (FOM). 3.3 Geographical distribution of the BiH population 43 3.4 Demographic profile 45 The following text is an English translation from the original text 3.5 Marital status 49 in French. 3.6 Residence permits 53 3.7 Naturalisations 55 Authors: Bashkim Iseni, Didier Ruedin, Dina Bader, Denise Efionayi-Mäder. 4 Socio-cultural integration and economic participation 58 Project Management: Denise Efionayi-Mäder 4.1 Aspects of integration 60 Project Assistance: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), 4.2 Language skills 61 Federal Office for Migration (FOM) 4.3 Teaching of the languages of the country of origin 64 4.4 Education: generational gap 66 Graphic design: Casalini Werbeagentur AG, Bern 4.5 Employment: unskilled and semi-skilled work 70 www.casalini.ch 4.6 Health: post-traumatic stress disorder 76 4.7 Religion and social life of the diasporas 80 Photo credits: © Lukas Linder 4.8 Transnationalism of BiH citizens 87 Available from: Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics FOBL, 5 Summary and outlook for the future 94 Federal Publications, CH-3003 Bern, www.bundespublikationen.admin.ch Art. no.: 420.047.e Appendix I: National Associations Appendix II: Extended Bibliography © FOM / FDJP, SDC / FDFA October 2014 Appendix III: List of Interviewees 2 3 Preamble The initiative to this research project was put The two leading agencies for the implementa- forward within the framework of the migra- tion of the Swiss Migration Partnership strat- tion partnership between Bosnia and Herze- egy in the Western Balkans, the Swiss Agency govina (hereinafter BiH) and Switzerland. At for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and a bilateral migration dialogue in 2011, the the Federal Ministry of Migration (FoM), Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of agreed to co-fund the research project. Both Bosnia and Herzegovina (MHRR) submitted to institutions viewed it a welcome opportunity the inter-ministerial Migration Working Group to combine the two different yet closely (WGM) of the Swiss Government a project related perspectives: migration and develop- proposal entitled “Mapping of BiH Diaspora in ment and migration and integration. The Switzerland”. The project proposed the crea- Swiss Forum for Migration and Population tion of “evidence-based policies and pro- Studies (SFM) at the University of Neuchâtel grammes, i.e. measures that would improve has been mandated to lead this two-fold contribution of Diaspora to the development research project. of BiH in accordance with the analysis recom- mendations”. The study at hand conducted in Switzerland serves as a first step in responding to the ini- The WGM welcomed the initiative and sug- tiative put forward by MHRR who strive to gested a process-oriented “step-by-step” improve the contribution of the Diaspora to approach, including a thorough study in Swit- the overall development of Bosnia and Herze- zerland of BiH’s Diaspora integration charac- govina. Also it portrays a general image of teristics, networks and potentials for cooper- the BiH population and explores their needs ation as a point of departure. Relations to and potential for their successful integration the country of origin and integration towards in Switzerland. As part of the research project, the hosting country are closely interlinked a separate study about the linkage between features of a Diaspora population. Therefore, Diaspora and development has been con- the research project looks at these two angles. ducted and published in BiH. 4 5 The presence of migrants from Bosnia and readership, from professionals in numerous Herzegovina (BiH) in Switzerland dates back sectors (administrative, social, educational, to the 1960s. These were considered Yugo- medical, police, etc.) to private individuals slavian workers at the time and up until interested in learning more about the lives of the early 1990s. However, the majority of BiH nationals living in Switzerland. migrants from BiH stem from subsequent waves, first of economic migration in the Methodology 1980s and then political exile following the This study has drawn on three main sources of war that devastated the country between information: the existing literature, statistical 1992 and 1995. Despite the size of the BiH data, and semi-structured interviews with population in Switzerland, there has been individuals and groups. The information thus relatively little discussion about them, in con- obtained in Switzerland was subsequently trast to some of the other communities from reviewed in relation to the findings of a study the Balkans. Although the war in BiH capti- carried out in BiH by Adnan Efendić of the vated Swiss public opinion, very little is known University of Sarajevo (School of Economics about the Bosnians now living in Switzerland. and Business), between November 2012 and It is, in fact, a heterogeneous population, January 2014. regarding their different migration journeys as well in socio-economic and cultural terms. Our study is primarily based on a corpus Given that so little research and studies have of research articles comprising scientific pub- been published in Switzerland on the subject lications and official reports. We then con- of BiH immigrants, the management of the sulted various statistical sources, particularly Swiss Agency for Development and Coopera- the results of the most recent federal popula- tion (SDC) and the Federal Office for Migra- tion census, the Swiss Labour Force Survey tion (FOM) commissioned the Swiss Forum (SLFS) and other theme-based statistics from for Migration and Population Studies (SFM) at the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). One of the the University of Neuchâtel to compile an difficulties encountered was the absence of overview of this population, outlining their precise statistics, due to the fact that, until migration history, their economic and demo- 1992, Swiss residents from BiH were not graphic situation, their socio-cultural integra- categorised separately in the official statistics tion in Switzerland and the transnational rela- on all citizens from the former Yugoslavia. tions they maintain between Switzerland and What’s more, even after 1992, a considerable BiH. This study seeks to portray a general number of people from BiH were counted image of the BiH population, explore their in the statistics as being Croatian or, to a needs and the potential for their successful lesser extent, Serbian; these had opted integration in Switzerland, and the socio-eco- to swap their Yugoslavian citizenship for a 1 Introduction nomic development of BiH. As with previous Croatian or Serbian passport (and not Bos- publications issued by the SFM concentrating nian) on account of their stronger affiliation on the Kosovar, Sri Lankan and Portuguese with an ethnic rather than a national identity populations, this study is intended for a wide (see 2.2). 7 Finally, we conducted around 20 interviews As each sub-chapter forms an independent report have been of enormous added value to throughout the empirical and editorial phase: with experts from various professional fields unit, certain areas of overlap have been inten- our work. We would like to thank them for in particular, Stéphanie Guha and Ursula Mes- (research, healthcare, education, social wel- tionally included, with cross-references to this, and in particular Florian Tissot for his serli Baftijaj (SDC) and Stéphanie Zbinden fare, public authorities) and with migrants other sub-chapters. Each chapter starts with a detailed proofreading of the entire text. We (FOM). We also thank the Ministry of Human from the BiH community living in Switzerland. summary of the main findings. The individual also extend our gratitude to Jasmina Opardija, Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzego- These interviews proved a valuable source chapters end with a bibliography which the Elma Hadzikadunić and Nenad Stojanović of vina (Department for Diaspora), which sub- regarding various aspects of life for BiH reader may find useful for more information the advisory group and Andreas Ernst, for mitted the initial project plan to the Swiss migrants in Switzerland, given the dearth of on the subjects covered. A complete list of their revision of certain chapters and their institutions. Moreover, we are grateful to Azra information in qualitative and quantitative bibliographic references quoted in the text insightful comments, whose feedback also Šarenkapa and Joseph Guntern from the SDC terms. can be found at the end of the publication. helped to navigate through the information Cooperation Office in Sarajevo. All statements Furthermore, the various themes covered from various sources. and opinions are those of the authors Structure and contents are illustrated by way of charts, images and of this publication quotations from the interviews with experts Special thanks go to Prof. Rustem Simitović, Bashkim Iseni, Didier Ruedin, Dina Bader, The contributions are structured into three or migrants. Finally, the Annex includes a list Honorary Consul of BiH in Zurich and former Denise Efionayi-Mäder (Project Manager) chapters, each comprising a number of of the individuals consulted and a compilation Chairman of the organisation “Matica”, who sub-chapters, which are designed to be read of relevant organisations and points of con- was always very accommodating in connect- independently of each other.