Crossing borders – feeling connected? Exploring the sense of belonging

Migrants find themselves living in a society with different practices, norms and values to their culture of origin. Migration is a life transition that entails changes in social and emotional belonging. This panel focuses on the question how migrants establish bonds in their receiving country. How do migrants negotiate their sense of belonging to the host and / or home country? What determines the strength of attachment to either of both? The present panel brings together researchers from three different countries who focus on the sense of belonging of different migrant populations. First, Isabelle Albert presents findings from a research project that examined intergenerational value transmission and cultural attachment to Portugal and Luxembourg among first and second-generation migrants in Luxembourg. Intergenerational relationships and migration are also the focus of Carlos Barros’ presentation. He presents findings from a qualitative study on intergenerational solidarity and maps solidarity patterns for different migrant groups. Jean Décieux presents identity constructions of international mobiles. The German Emigration and Remigration Panel study (GERPS) covers the migration trajectories of about 11,000 individuals. Patterns of belonging will be highlighted and discussed. Débora Maehler presents insights from a meta-analysis on the sense of belonging of young immigrants in Germany. Factors determining the strength of belonging to either their country of origin or Germany will be explored. The panel closes with a contribution by Elke Murdock on the host country perspective. She presents results from a quantitative study on criteria and predictors for the acceptance of new citizens as belonging by natives.