The Trap of Transnationalism—Polish Organizations in Germany
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Instoitute for Western Affairs
Publication date: 2011-09-27
Polish Sociological Review 2011;175(3):315-332
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ABSTRACT
Often in themigration literature transnational relations ofmigrants and their institutions with the
sending country are described as important factor strengthening or improving the situation of the migrants
in the receiving country. The aim of the paper is to empirically prove that in some of the cases the set
of multiple conditions affecting immigrant organizations may have the opposite effect. The example of
Polish organizations in Germany shows that transnationalization may have as a consequence the limiting,
and the degradation of immigrant organizations standing. The four analyzed factors determining the
situation of Polish immigrant associational in Germany: the characteristics of immigrant group, the policy
of the receiving country towards immigration and IOs, the diaspora policy of the sending country, as well
as the bilateral relations between the sending and receiving country together constitute a combination that
has a strong negative effect on the functioning of Polish organizations. This all produces an impression of
falling into the “trap of transnationalism.”