Climate of fear and (un)safe home: the case of Lithuanian (im)migrants in Norway

Straipsnyje, remiantis 2017 m. Norvegijoje atlikto lauko tyrimo duomenimis, kalbama apie baimės atmosferą, su kuria susiduria (i)migrantai iš Lietuvos. Baimės atmosferą sukuria (i)migrantų patirtys ir viešasis diskursas dėl Norvegijos vaiko priežiūros tarnybų tariamai atiminėjamų vaikų. Remiantis lauko tyrimo duomenimis, surinktais viename mieste Norvegijos šiaurėje, straipsnyje atskleidžiamos (i)migrantų strategijos ir laikysenos šioje baimės atmosferoje. Raktiniai žodžiai: migracija, identitetas, emocijos, lietuviai Norvegijoje.Based on data from fieldwork conducted in 2017 in one of the cities in northern Norway, the article examines the importance of emotions to the integration/ non-integration of (im)migrants into Norwegian society. The literature on transnationalism notes a certain duality in defining (im)migrants’ attitudes towards their country of origin and their host country, often emphasising an emotional attachment to the country of origin and a degree of integration into the society of the host country. The article suggests a certain aspect of ‘mis-understanding’ that prevails between (im)migrants and the society of the host country. It shows that the absence of cultural dialogue can lead to a negative attitude among migrants towards the society of the host country. The ‘climate of fear’ referred to in this article is created because of the different cultural approaches to parenting, and (im)migrants’ inability to learn new behaviour due to a lack of basic elements of integration: learning Norwegian, and at least a few basic cultural aspects. Following the Lithuanian media also contributes to a stereotypical, one-sided constructed image of (im)migrant children ‘taken away’ in Norway. Lithuanian migrants from lower social strata are active users of Lithuanian media, and not Norwegian media (the main reason being the lack of language skills; however, the desire to follow events in Lithuania more than in Norway is equally important). The ‘climate of fear’ affects the superficial adaptation to the cultural norms of the society of the host country. Telling children ‘what can be said’ in kindergarten or school about family life is a good example; regardless of this, Lithuanian (im)migrants apply parenting methods brought from Lithuania. Lithuanian (im) migrants of a higher social status, and who have consequently integrated better into Norwegian society, have a more critical attitude towards the ‘climate of fear’. Seeing that the ‘climate of fear’ is often constructed due to a lack of intercultural competence, they are more inclined to think using the categories of the host country, and to represent the official discourse of Norway. Nevertheless, the ‘climate of fear’ is a real factor that influences the transnational practices of (im)migrants. Cases when (im)migrants decide to return to Lithuania (often to bring the children to Lithuania, while the parents or one of the parents remain in Norway) prevent the further integration of children into Norwegian society, and create transnational or remote families. The lack of certainty about the future modifies the structure of the family. Instead of a ‘normal’ nuclear family model consisting of parents and children, ‘family-making’ models emerge, in which grandparents or single parents take care of the children, or childcare is shared at regular intervals (with regular trips to the country of origin). Key words: migration, identity, emotions, Lithuanians in Norway