SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF BOSNIAN-HERZEGOVINIAN CROATS IN CROATIA ON THE EXAMPLE OF OKRUG GORNJI

Abstract

Social integration of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Croats in Croatia on the example of Okrug Gornji The paper deals with the social integration of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Croats in Croatia on the example of the settlement of Okrug Gornji as a case study. Correlating the theoretical approaches of human geography and identity studies, the article deals with the phenomenon of migration as a research object in human geography through the relation of ethnic and regional identity as the factors of social integration of the immigrant population. The research proved that B&H Croats are mostly successfully integrated into the social context of Gornji Okrug without forms of spatial and social ghettoization. Being stronger than regional, the common ethnic (and religious) identity of domicile and immigrant population gives a positive impetus for successful integration of the immigrants.