The Integration of the Visegrad Region into World Migration Systems, A Networks Approach to Contemporary Migration Trends

The purpose of the present thesis is twofold: first, it is aimed at presenting contemporary migration trends evolving in the Visegrad Region after the collapse of the socialist regimes in 1989. By examining the latest migratory events it will be shown how the Visegrad Region has reintegrated into the world migration systems on the periphery of developed Europe. Second, in order to explain recent migration a systems approach will be used with an emphasis on the role of social networks. It is argued that international migration can be best analysed if viewed as evolving from the interaction of various worldwide linkages. The end to the bipolar isolation of the world has brought about extensive population movements in the studied region. A plethora of case studies have been carried out since 1989 focused mainly on the analysis and effects of the quantitatively most significant immigration phenomena. Less attention has been devoted to the qualitative aspects of migratory events and studies concerning emigration trends. The present thesis is an attempt to fill in these gaps by concentrating on two less discussed areas: the qualitative aspects of transit migration and emigration. The analysis of these migratory events moves away from traditional, neoclassic migration models as the major explanatory framework. Although push-pull factors are continuously examined in the study, they serve as useful tools identifying the determinants of migration rather than as the underlying theory. Migrations systems, within which dynamic linkages interact with each other and evolve over space and time, represent the fundamental theoretical framework of the present thesis. It is believed that a historical, structural and globalist approach represents a more appropriate way in which to view international migration than traditional, an historical and individualistic models. To underpin the validity of the above approach a case study was carried out focused on one type of these dynamic, migration related linkages. The analysis of the formation of social (people’s) networks established by Hungarian emigrants in Finland helps identify the channels, functions and effects of migrants’ social networks on migration. The case study is based on a survey as well as on in-depth interviews conducted by the author among thirty-one respondents. Based on the above it has been concluded that the Visegrad Region, once a periphery of the Soviet Union, has reintegrated into the worldwide migration systems on the periphery of developed Europe after 1989. Migratory events in the Region are not determined in isolation from time and space on an individual basis but rather by the evolution of dynamic worldwide linkages constituted both by people and non-people elements