European Studies Summer School 2005

Group project:

Migration and the European Diaspora in Australia

Project convenor: Dr Christa Knellwolf

Group participants:

Stephanie Brady
Mervin Dayal
James Kassimatis
Rachael Bongiorno
Laura Russell
Olwen van Dijk

Project outline:

Mobility of people (emigration, immigration and temporary migration) has become a prominent feature of a global society. Australia started out as a British, and hence European, colony and was initially formed by voluntary and involuntary emigrants (free settlers and convicts). The Second World War initiated the first major wave of emigration from Europe to Australia. As from the 1970s, the percentage of European immigrants in Australia began to drop from around 90% to currently just over 50%. The mobility between Australia and Europe nevertheless continues to be of paramount significance. The EU is not only the largest trading partner of Australia, there also is a significant flow of people between these two locations.

Questions to be considered in the research project include:

1. In what ways do temporary migrants (contractors, guest workers, students, etc) affect the national identity of a particular state?
2. What does Europe have to offer to Australia (and vice versa)? Are there any special incentives for European migrants to Australia (and vice versa)?
3. What influence do migrants have on the formation of collective (or national) consciousness?
4. What economic benefits accrue from skilled / unskilled migration?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of either aiming for the integration of new migrants or encouraging them to adhere to the culture and belief systems of their country of origin?

Some Further Reading:

Castles, Stephen and Alastair Davidson (2000), Citizenship and Migration: Globalization and the Politics of Belonging, London: Macmillan.

Hugo, Graeme (2005), “Australian Diaspora: A Demographic Perspective,” Contribution to the European Diaspora Research Network, Athens, 20 Sept. 2005 [so far unpublished conference presentation]

Münch, Richard (2001), Nation and Citizenship in the Global Age: From National to Transnational Ties and Identities, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Settles, Barbara H., Daniel E. Hanks III, Marvin B. Sussma, eds., (1993), Families on the Move: Migration, Immigration, Emigration, and Mobility, New York: the Haworth Press