Sense of (Un)Belonging: Acculturation Experiences among Second Generation Migrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Contemporary migration research shows that the number of foreign-country-born migrants is increasing, which highlights the significance of research on second-gen-eration migrants as a particular group that can expose the specifics of development courses of migrants’ life and cultural identity. The term “second generation” refers to people born in a host country, to at least one immigrant parent or people who emigrated from the country of origin at the age of 6 or less. On the other hand, the 1.5 generation (persons born in a foreign country who emigrated during the early ado lescence – between 6 and 12 years old) does not exhibit a unique cultural identity but feels divided between belonging to the country of origin and the host country. According to migration studies, the second generation shows a better level of accultura tion, owing to the easier learning of the language(s) and adaptation to educational and work habits. This paper explores different theoretical models (unidimensional, bidimensional, and interactive), in order to establish a framework for acculturation experiences of second-generation migrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using a discourse analysis of the life stories of six second-generation emigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, an interpretation framework will be created consisting of three topics: self-determination and construction of identity; primary socialisation impact on the (in)homogeneity of cultural identity; connection of the second generation with the country of origin and the host country. One of the most important conclusions is that the second generation has no clearly defined identity (which is symptomatic for the 1.5 generation) and that their daily lives are marked by an intense feeling of not belonging – neither there nor here.