(De)constructing Polish migrants’ in Wales identity:Juxtaposing fixed generalizations with formalized conceptualizations.

Paweł Wróbelpkw9@aber.ac.ukAcademic Tutor / PhD Candidate

Structure Introduction Project overview Polish migration to Wales

– Methodology– Case studies

Identity– Definitions– Quotations

Impact of history, geopolitics and migration experience

Catholicism Conslusion

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Project overview

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Examining socio-cultural geographies of Polish migrants in Wales– Using concepts of encounter, hospitality and integration

– Discovering negotiating of belonging and identity

– Examining multiculturalism in a minority nation context

Main aims / research questions– Explore Polish diaspora’s cultural heritage expression

– Examine how ideas of Welshness are engaged– Investigate the roles key sites play in the maintenance of ‘homeland’ identity

Polish migration to Wales

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Presence of different diasporic groups 1951 Census: 162,00 Polish born population in the UK

Poland as a country of emigration Impact of partitions, two World Wars and Soviet influence

Post-2004 Polish migration to Wales 2011 Census: 18,023 Polish born population in Wales

Main reasons for such significant migration Migration group characteristics

Methodology

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Qualitative methods– Semi-structured interviews (46 conducted interviews)

– Focus groups (at later stage)Case studies

– Focusing on coastal locations

Map presenting selected case studies (Lonely Planet, 2015)

Identity

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Definitions– „The set of characteristics by which a person or thing is

definitively recognizable or known”– „The awareness that an individual or group has of being a

distinct, persisting entity”– „The fact or condition of being the same as something else”– „Information, such as an identification number, used to

establish or prove a person's individuality”– „The state of having unique identifying characteristics held by

no other person or thing”– „The fact of being who or what a person or thing is”

Identity

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„How would you describe yourself?”

n=46

Identity

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„What does Polish identity mean to you?”– In general it is about our [Polish] tradition, our culture which is much different

from this one here [in the UK/Wales]. Also family ties, relations with Poland... but also longing for homeland (Barbara)

– Mainly it's about language, because some people are ashamed of being Polish, don't speak Polish and let's say… I know people who introduced themselves as English only after a few months of being here. It’s pathetic… (Kamil)

– Patriotism, openness, honesty (Dominika)– Some kind of collection of national features, if something like that exists. Maybe

certain cultural code, historical awareness, knowledge about literature (Michał)– [It means] that someone was born in Poland and consider her/himself as Polish,

and not someone who was born in Poland and considers himself as Welsh, just because he came here a month ago or so(Aneta)

– Definitely, for me it means to feel Polish… that perhaps wherever I go, I try not to embrace these local accents, behaviour, but instead to preserve this Polishness by all means (Robert)

– For me we are all Europeans (Kornelia)

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Impact History

– 18th century partitions– Two World Wars– Soviet regime– 2004 EU Membership

Geopolitics– Placed inbetween Germany and Russia– „God’s playground” (Davies 1981)

Migration experience– Separation– Integration– Assimmilation

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Catholicism Driving fake and generalized image

– Omnipresence– Exclusion– Fixed terms– Implications

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Conclusion How are you Polish? NOT How Polish are you? Polish people feel strong about their identity

Their experience is surely shaped by history, geopolitics and migration

Catholicism should not be taken for granted and associated that strongly with Polish migrants

Further study on the impact of integration on the process of identity formulation could be interesting

Answering two vital questions– What does it mean to be Polish?– What Kind of nation is the Polish one?