Return, adaptation, and transnational relations among Estonian citizens returned from Finland

: Jauhiainen, Jussi S; Smolander, Selma

Publisher: Routledge

: 2024

: Journal of Baltic Studies

: 0162-9778

: 1751-7877

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01629778.2024.2374780

: https://doi.org/10.1080/01629778.2024.2374780

A growth in return migration has prompted increasing inquiries into its effects on the countries of origin and the adaptation of returning migrants. This article studies the return, adaptation, and transnational relations among Estonian citizens returned from Finland. The material derives from interviews of 41 Estonian speakers and 19 Russian speakers who returned to Estonia. Many migrants made the actual return decision rather rapidly. Overall, most returned migrants adapted easily to Estonia. Most returned to work and had intensive social networks in Estonia. They maintained contact with Finland but often mainly with Estonians living there. Only a few consider onward migration.

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This work was supported by the Kone Foundation under Grant “Suomen Sillat 3.0.”