Integration of Germans in Croatian Society

Cilj ovog rada je utvrditi razloge preseljenja Nijemaca u Hrvatsku, stereotipe prema hrvatskom društvu, te integraciju, važnost jezika pri integriranju u novo društvo i doživljavanje osobnog identiteta kod Nijemaca s hrvatskom adresom s obzirom na promijenjenu društvenu okolinu. Empirijsko istraživanje provedeno na 10 sudionika polustrukturiranom intervjuom pokazalo je kako se visokoobrazovani Nijemci u Hrvatsku sele većinom iz poslovnih razloga, te da su se predrasude o hrvatskom društvu u vidu opuštenosti, gostoljubivosti, ljubavi prema dugom ispijanju kava i spontanosti pokazale točnima. To potvrđuju i usporedbe raznih domena svakodnevnog života, od odnosa prema poslu do slavlja. Kod Nijemaca koji žive u Hrvatskoj može se uočiti fenomen transnacionalizma, termin koji ukazuje na istodobnu usidrenost u dvama društvima. Također, činjenica da njemački prijatelji sudionika ovog istraživanja na njima ne vide promjene od trenutka preseljenja u novo društvo, a hrvatski prijatelji sudionika promjene vide, potvrđuje teorije koje zagovaraju pojam identiteta kao promjenjivu strukturu ovisnu o vremenu i prostoru, sklonu prilagodbi.The aim of this paper is to determine the reasons for the relocation of Germans to Croatia, stereotypes towards Croatian society, and integration, the importance of language in integrating into a new society and experiencing personal identity of Germans with Croatian address given the changed social environment. Empirical research conducted on 10 participants in a semi-structured interview showed that highly educated Germans move to Croatia mostly for business reasons, and that prejudices about Croatian society in the form of relaxation, hospitality, love for drinking coffee and spontaneity proved correct. This is confirmed by comparisons of various domains of everyday life, from the attitude towards work to celebration. Among Germans living in Croatia, the phenomenon of transnationalism can be observed, a term that indicates the simultaneous anchoring in two societies. Also, the fact that German friends of the participants in this study do not see changes in them since moving to a new society, and Croatian friends of participants see changes, confirms theories that advocate the concept of identity as a changing structure dependent on time and space, prone to adaptation