Re-emigration and integration of Volhynian and "Chernobyl" Czechs in the Czech Republic

Abstract

This paper deals with an integration process of re-emigrants - the Chemobyll Volhynian Czechs from Ukraine and Belorussia who retumed to their mother country (the Czech Republic) within two migratory waves: 1945-48 and 1991-93. The analysis is based on two questionnaire surveys within which 140 and 345 re-emigrants were successfully contacted, respectively. The paper starts with the historical background ofthe two re-emigrant groups. Then methods are described and hypotheses are designed. The outputs are structured in three parts: the characterisation ofboth waves in terms or geographical, demographic, economic, psychological, socio-cultural and ethnographic pararneters, testing or the hypotheses and rormulation or the policy implications/recommendations.