Aspirations and strategies of Albanian immigrants in Thessaloniki

Abstract

The bulk of the literature in migration studies is written from a state perspective; very little research positions immigrants centre-stage. When that is the case, it is mostly in relation to the ‘natives’ or to the ‘host society’ in general. Probably this lack of research reflects the mainstream perception of migration, which is not in terms of the immigrants themselves, but is concerned with—some might say problematized by—the states involved. In that sense, although migration emblematically stems from immigrants as key actors, their motivations and dreams are commonly overlooked, and their voices silenced. Furthermore, states set goals, which they attempt to achieve through policies, but rarely are the goals of immigrants taken into consideration. Instead immigrants are depicted in abstract, general terms; they are grouped into homogenous categories, far removed from any notion of immigrants’ subjective goals and dreams. This definitely applies to the Greek context. The immigration policies of Greece are such that, not only are the aspirations of migrants ignored, but also their very real contribution to the country is not acknowledged. This perspective is also reflected in academia, where relevant literature fails to pose questions concerning migrants’ initial and current aspirations. This paper is an attempt to contribute to our understanding of migrants’ aspirations and strategies. The term aspirations refers to immigrants’ wishes and goals, whereas strategies are the practices that they undertake to realize those wishes, but also to cope with everyday hardships. My focus will be on Albanian immigrants in Thessaloniki. I seek to narrate the aspirations of Albanian migrants in Greece and the practices they pursue to materialize them, as well as to trace how these are reconsidered and negotiated through time. What were the pre-migration aspirations, initial expectations and motivations of Albanian immigrants in Greece? What strategies did they pursue, and under the influence of which factors? How did their strategies and aspirations develop through the passing of time and circumstance? How do immigrants evaluate their decision to migrate to Greece and how do they view their stay in the country? Is it conceptualized as a temporary move or as permanent residence? What are their plans for the future and an eventual return to Albania? In my analysis, I acknowledge migration as an instrumental behaviour, as a strategy towards the materialization of aspirations. In that sense immigrants are heterogeneous subjects responding to different aspirations. Yet immigration is a major change that transgresses all aspects of the life-course and therefore