Mayblin, Lucy, Valentine, G. and Winiarska, A. (2016) Migration and diversity in a post-socialist context : creating integrative encounters in Poland. Environment and Planning A, 48 (5). pp. 960-978. doi:10.1177/0308518X15623534 ISSN 0308-518X.

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Abstract

This article explores ‘integrative encounters’ between immigrants and Polish people in Warsaw. Rather than focus on new arrivals we pay attention to the integration experiences of the host population in recognition that this is a group who have been relatively neglected in the literature. Post-socialist European countries where population mobility was circumscribed during the communist era and as a consequence became perceived as relatively homogenous white societies but which are now seeing a rise in immigration, have been largely neglected by non-domestic scholars. In Poland organised group activity is an important means to provide the established population with an opportunity to encounter migrants because such encounters are less likely to occur in everyday spaces. Drawing on research with a Warsaw based NGO which runs a football league to bring Polish people and immigrants together, we argue that attention needs to be paid to the issue of ‘motivation' to participate in integration projects and to the significance of sociality. In doing so, we suggest that creating the conditions for spontaneous connections to develop, even in contrived projects, is a way to overcome indifference to difference. Here, we highlight the qualities of football as a bridging activity to facilitate integrative encounters.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DK Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Poland -- Emigration and immigration -- 21st century, Poland -- History -- 1989-
Journal or Publication Title:	Environment and Planning A
Publisher:	Pion Ltd.
ISSN:	0308-518X
Official Date:	May 2016
Dates:	Date Event May 2016 Published 20 January 2016 Available
Volume:	48
Number:	5
Page Range:	pp. 960-978
DOI:	10.1177/0308518X15623534
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access (Creative Commons)
Funder:	European Research Council (ERC)
Grant number:	Grant no. 249658

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