Dynamics and challenges of migration, re-migration and immigration in the Republic of Croatia

The research focus of the interdisciplinary project proposal is the Republic of Croatia, which became a member of the EU on July 1, 2013. Taking into the framework of observation the historical picture of how Croatia is a kind of basin of migration, re-migration and immigration and the circulation of labor force is continuously taking place, from 1945 to the present day, the project activities will focus on the position after the change by Croatia’s entry into the European Union, which are occurred and are present in the Croatian territory as well as in the labor market. The changes were caused by the sudden expansion of access to the labor market in EU countries, but also in Croatia, as well as by the global situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The research base of the planned project activity is migrants, re-migrants and immigrants who circulate on the Croatian and EU labor market. The project team is composed of 11 scientists (8 from the Ivo Pilar Institute, 2 from IMIN, 1 from the Institute for Slovenian Immigration and Migration from Ljubljana and 2 female collaborators (Croatian History Museum and HRT). During the duration of the project (2024-2028 ) work plan plans to carry out several researches focused on three research topics, in which different methods will be applied: analysis of scientific literature, analysis of statistical documentation, GIS analysis, analysis of historical material and archival material, survey research, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, case studies (Germany, Slovenia) In addition to affirming interdisciplinarity and raising scientific excellence, the goals of the project are: development of national and regional identity and culture, work and cooperation on activities of national significance, promotion of a culture of equality and equality, and popularization of science and art. The project includes three research topics: 1) Dynamics and challenges of migration – the focus of the first research topic is on migration research from 2013 to the recent period, to detect to what extent the positions and reflections of Croatian citizens regarding migration towards the EU have changed, which is the first unique contribution to the research. “High-skilled” and “brain drain/gain” migration and circular mobility, which includes the cycle from cheap labor to desirable labor, which is advocated to the greatest extent by EU countries, previously as a source of cheap labor, and now as a source of the required total workforce. The new digital era knows no boundaries of employment and individuals who use the resources of the digital era transcend cultural, political, economic and physical boundaries. It will be investigated to what extent Croatia competes or can compete with western members in terms of knowledge, knowledge transfer, technology, employment and digital nomads through the creation of virtual spheres, virtual mobility and physical non-abandonment of the place of residence, but the possibility of constant change of the work environment. A unique contribution will be to what extent the digital era can facilitate the establishment of a transnational or supranational identity that the EU needs for political stability and political future? 2) Return migrations – remigration – the focus of the second research topic is on the research of return migrations, experiences of motivation to return, good opportunities and challenges of returnees as active participants in Croatian society with the aim of promoting the national and general good and the development of the communities to which they return . The dynamics of emigration and remigration between the Republic of Croatia and Germany will be investigated in parallel. Valuable potential will be pointed out in the form of the development of the concept of digital nomads and virtual mobility through the analysis of return migrations. The unique contribution will be the contribution of returnees to the development processes of Croatia, and a model/s of return to the Republic of Croatia will be proposed. 3) Immigration – with and without legal authorization – the focus of the third research topic is on the workforce with permits and on illegal – unregistered migrants who can create numerous challenges in Croatian society in terms of social and economic consequences. Labor immigration since the entry of the Republic of Croatia into the EU and illegal crossings of the state border of the Republic of Croatia, the impact of modern migrations and people on the move in Croatian society, and socio-political and legislative-normative changes that occur as a result of the control, monitoring and legalization of irregular migration on the territory will be investigated. Republic of Croatia The unique contribution is the geographic distribution of migrants within the Croatian national territory and the assessment of the short-term and long-term demographic consequences of labor and illegal migration. DinamiRH project team members (Rebeka Mesarić Žabčić, Ph.D., project manager, and collaborators: Dražen Živić, Ph.D., Nenad Pokos, Ph.D., Ljiljana Dobrovšak, Ph.D., Ivo Turk, Ph.D., Marija Geiger Zeman, Caroline Horstein-Tomić, Ph.D., Sandra Cvikić, Ph.D. (all from the Ivo Pilar Institute), Nikola Šimunić, Ph.D. (Institute for Migration Research), Ana Malnar, Ph.D. (Institute for Migration research), Kristina Toplak, Ph.D. (Institute for Slovenian Immigration and Migration), Iva Čulina, Ph.D. (Croatian Radiotelevision), Magdalena Vrbanec, Prof. (Croatian Historical Museum), Monika Balija, Ph.D. (Faculty of Croatian Studies) and Mario Bara, Ph.D. (Croatian Catholic University).