Young returning migrants as actors of social changes in Slovakia

Abstract

Migration is a cyclical process which also involves a decision as to whether to return. The situation in Slovakia is characterised by a high number of young people studying abroad. Up to now, the process of their migration and return has been studied frequently from an economic perspective. However, the return migration also contributes to social changes in the home country of the migrants. Therefore, the return migration opens new research, areas and themes some of which we include in our paper. In contemporary migration studies, the transfer of new ideas, practices and codes of behaviour between the place of origin and destination covers the concept of social remittances. The idea of social remittances focused sociological attention on the tendencies of returning young migrants to become bearers of change and development in their home country. In this paper, we are presenting findings about practical aspects how young Slovak migrants become agents of social change in their immediate circle, community and even society.