Migration and diversity in a post-socialist context: Creating integrative encounters in Poland

This article explores ‘integrative encounters’ between immigrants and Polish people in Warsaw. Rather than focus on new arrivals we pay attention to the integration experiences of the host population in recognition that this is a group who have been relatively neglected in the literature. Post-socialist European countries where population mobility was circumscribed during the communist era and as a consequence became perceived as relatively homogenous white societies but which are now seeing a rise in immigration, have been largely neglected by non-domestic scholars. In Poland organised group activity is an important means to provide the established population with an opportunity to encounter migrants because such encounters are less likely to occur in everyday spaces. Drawing on research with a Warsaw based NGO which runs a football league to bring Polish people and immigrants together, we argue that attention needs to be paid to the issue of ‘motivation' to participate in integration projects and to the significance of sociality. In doing so, we suggest that creating the conditions for spontaneous connections to develop, even in contrived projects, is a way to overcome indifference to difference. Here, we highlight the qualities of football as a bridging activity to facilitate integrative encounters

What is known about mental health needs of the post-European Union accession Polish immigrants in the UK? A systematic review

Migration has been associated with distress and severe mental health problems among a range of populations around the world, including the Polish people. Poles are currently the largest immigrant population in the United Kingdom and, despite these statistics, little is still known about mental health needs of this group. This study adopted a systematic review design to explore the existing literature in the area. Five electronic databases were searched with eight studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies were analysed by means of thematic synthesis. Three main themes were observed in these studies: 1) The negative mental health aspects of migration - this included frustration and multiple stresses; language difficulties; financial hardship; discrimination and isolation; unfamiliarity with the culture, cultural stigma and shame. 2) The positive mental health aspects of migration - comprised of freedom and new opportunities. 3) Coping – this incorporated personal traits; social capital and culture as well as individual differences. Current findings support broader literature into migrant stress and highlight a range of mental health needs of the studied population. The discursive component of this paper considers the implications for professionals working with this group and highlights the need for more specific research in this area

Tales From the Borderlands

This article deals with representations of the Northern Irish conflict by Polish migrants. It first sets the scene for the migration of Poles, discussing the issue of the sectarian divide. Subsequently, it presents a conceptual framework for understanding the construction of social representations. It then discusses migrants’ opposing tendencies to represent the ethno-religious boundaries as fixed and rigid on one hand and to represent them as fluid and shifting on the other hand. Whereas the tendency to represent the local conflict as of great consequence to migrants’ lives relates to a wider cultural knowledge, the tendency to point at ongoing social changes in Belfast is connected to a more direct exposure of Polish migrants to members of the local community