New Publication Alert: Return Aspirations and Trajectories of Migrants - Country Dossier Greece - WP7
We are pleased to announce the publication of the Country Dossier Greece, developed as part of Work Package 7: Return Aspirations and Trajectories of Migrants. This comprehensive dossier, authored by Eva Papatzani, Timokleia Psallidaki, George Kandylis, Katerina Vezyrgianni, and Christina Varouxi, offers an in-depth analysis of migrants’ experiences in Greece, highlighting the complexities of migration trajectories and the factors influencing aspirations and decisions during the 'pre-return phase.'
Key Highlights:
Broad Examination of Return Phases: The dossier adopts an expansive view of the 'pre-return phase,' addressing migrants at varying levels of return risk—short-term, mid-term, and long-term.
Complex Migration Trajectories: It explores diverse patterns, including onward movements, intermediate settlements, circular migration, and multiple returns to countries of origin or re-migration to Greece.
Integration Challenges: Insights into the economic and social conditions shaping migrant lives in Greece, such as housing instability, labour precarity, irregularisation, institutional racism, and deportability.
Role of Networks and Institutions: Analyzes the influence of social networks, family, and community relationships on migrants’ experiences, including care dynamics, racism, and political engagement.
Mixed Drivers of Return Decisions: Highlights the multifaceted reasons behind return aspirations, including irregularisation, lack of stable legal status, labour exploitation, health challenges, and physical exhaustion.
Flexible Typology of Migration Trajectories: Proposes a nuanced framework for understanding migration patterns based on empirical findings and contextual factors in Greece.
The findings are derived from desk research and 30 in-depth interviews with migrants at various stages of return risk, complemented by ethnographic methods such as field visits, observations, and guided tours in Athens. Participants include migrants with varied statuses, from those who transitioned from irregularisation to regular status to rejected asylum seekers and newly arrived irregular migrants.
This dossier provides valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners engaged in migration studies and return governance. By examining the intersection of social, economic, and political dynamics, it offers a deeper understanding of migration trajectories and the conditions influencing migrants’ return aspirations and decisions.
For further details, access the full Country Dossier Greece here.
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