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Despite emerging securitization patterns all over Europe and although desecuritization has occasionally been suggested as a possible alternative to security discourses, it has remained, however, severely underexplored. Implications pertaining to the polarization of the security‐migration nexus are traceable both in the host state as well as in the overall life quality of migrants and refugees. As far as Greece is concerned, the migration‐related security discourse has penetrated all layers of the social and political fabric with serious consequences both for those that remain in the country as well as for the political imprint of Greece. Yet, despite limited conceptual attempts to explore the desecuritization of migration dynamics in Greece, there remains a huge research gap. The aim of this paper was to present a desecuritization framework for Greece, through the management and supervision of migratory flows. Drawing insights from conceptual understandings, a pragmatic, utilitarian, flexible and positive form of desecuritization is proposed, called "flexicuritization", which constitutes a feasible and implementable solution in the Greek case. It is argued that desecuritization presupposes a pragmatic view of security leading policymakers to the management of migration through monitoring and supervision. At a theoretical and synthetic level, this strategy will include elements from the three theoretical schools of realism, liberalism and constructivism. The purpose of this flexible strategy is to become a precursor to integration under conditions that are consistent and in the spirit of the flows and the number of migrants / refugees currently in Greece. A case study method will be used, based on Paul Roe's (2004) desecuritization strategy for ethnic minorities in the Greek migration context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cohen (1997) employed the term “classical” diaspora in reference to the Jews. Indeed, a vast corpus of work recognizes the Jewish people as examples of quintessential diasporic groups. However, a broader conceptualization of the term diaspora allows for the inclusion of immigrant communities that would be otherwise sidelined in the conventional literature on diaspora. This study is therefore a departure from the traditional diasporic literature, which tends to use the Jewish Diaspora as the archetype. It favours, rather, the classification of three principal broad historical waves in which the Jewish Diaspora can be interpreted as part of a classical period. The historicizing of diasporization for the purpose of this paper is achieved by an empirical discussion of the three major historical waves that influenced the diasporic process throughout the world: the Classical Period, the Modern Period, and the Contemporary or Late-modern Period. The paper discusses these three critical phases in the following manner: first, reference is made to the Classical Period, which is associated primarily with ancient diaspora and ancient Greece. The second historical phase analyses diaspora in relation to the Modern Period, which can be interpreted as a central historical fact of slavery and colonization. This section can be further subdivided into three large phases: (1) the expansion of European capital (1500–1814), (2) the Industrial Revolution (1815–1914), and (3) the Interwar Period (1914–1945). The final major period of diasporization can be considered a Contemporary or Late-modern phenomenon. It refers to the period immediately after World War II to the present day, specifying the case of the Hispanics in the United States as one key example. The paper outlines some aspects of the impact of the Latin American diaspora on the United States, from a socio-economic and politico-cultural point of view. While the Modern and Late-modern periods are undoubtedly the most critical for an understanding of diaspora in a modern, globalized context, for the purpose of this paper, more emphasis is placed on the latter period, which illustrates the progressive effect of globalization on the phenomenon of diasporization. The second period, the Modern Phase is not examined in this paper, as the focus is on a comparative analysis of the early Classical Period and the Contemporary or Late-modern Period. The incorporation of diaspora as a unit of analysis in the field of international relations has been largely neglected by both recent and critical scholarship on the subject matter. While a growing number of studies focus on the increasing phenomenon of diasporic communities, from the vantage of social sciences, the issue of diaspora appears to be inadequately addressed or ignored altogether. Certain key factors present themselves as limitations to the understanding of the concept, as well as its relevance to the field of international relations and the social sciences as a whole. This paper is meant to clarify some aspects of the definition of diaspora by critiquing the theories in the conventional literature, exposing the lacunae in terms of interpretation of diaspora and in the final analysis, establishing a historiography that may be useful in comparing certain features of “classical” diaspora and “contemporary” diaspora. The latter part of the paper is intended to provide illustrations of a contemporary diasporic community, using the example of Hispanics in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of research investigating language maintenance/shift among second-generation Arabic speakers in Athens using adolescents of mainly Egyptian origin and their parents as informants. Quantitative data on language competence and on patterns of language use within Egyptian households indicate language shift in adolescents of the Coptic religion. In contrast, Muslim informants emerge as language maintainers. Qualitative results originating from interviews with parents indicate that the significance of religious practice leads Muslims and Copts to view Arabic and Coptic respectively as core values for their identity. This distinction leads to a differentiation in patterns of Arabic language transmission between Muslim and Coptic Egyptian parents, reflecting both the different internal dynamics of these sub-communities, and their different relationships to the host society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the factors affecting immigrant remittances on the basis of the experience of immigrants to Greece. In addition to factors commonly used in similar analyses, we examine two new ones: stability of employment and relative deprivation. Our results show that the stability of employment has no significant effect on the decision to remit, while relative deprivation does. Immigrants from less relatively deprived families are more likely to send money back home. As for their effects on the size of remittances, our results show that the relative deprivation variable is insignificant, while those in steady jobs remit less money than those employed in unsteady jobs. The latter finding suggests that fluctuations in migrant employment and migrant income are borne by migrants themselves, whose goal appears to be to secure a steady flow of remittances to country of origin. This type of remittance behaviour has implications for the interpretation of volatility in remittance flows to migrant-sending countries. Specifically, variation in flows may be attributable to changes in the numbers of migrants and not only to changes in the economic and employment conditions in destination countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates innovation as a cause of highly skilled migration. Drawing on a totally new database that includes all the Greek PhD holders, combined with panel data from the Global Innovation Index covering 57 countries over the 2009–2020 period, we find that innovation constitutes a strong determinant for highly skilled migration. That is, a rise in innovative performance is positively associated with an increase in the number of highly skilled Greek migrants. We further find a two‐way causality between innovation and highly skilled migration. Namely an increase in the number of highly skilled Greek migrants positively affects innovative performance. While most of the recent studies have comprehensively addressed the positive effects of skilled migration on innovation, they have not looked at innovation as a determinant of highly skilled migration. We further discuss the potential implications of our findings on countries displaying low innovative performance coupled with brain drain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering onward migration aspirations of Albanian migrants in Italy and Greece, this article investigates the reproduction of transnational practices in relation to preferred destinations before new settlements take place. Drawing on qualitative data, it introduces the concept of explorative transnational practices and sheds light on the interplay between aspirations and transnationalism, showing how the desire to leave the first country may be shaped by transnational ties, and how this may trigger occasional transnational physical activity to explore new destinations. On one hand, this version of transnational mobility may engender remigration, but, on the other, this may be transformed into income‐oriented work trips due to structural constraints (legal status, immigrant networks) and a lack of linguistic and economic capital, as well as other factors such as integration processes, intergenerational relationships and experiences in new destinations. This questions the very presumptions of the transnationalist approach that underscore agentic dimensions of transnational migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the official Italian administrative data, the community of Italians living in Athens went on growing over the years, including the last decade. What are the drivers of Italian immigration in a less‐developed country than Italy, a country which recently has also experienced a more serious crisis than the Italian one? To answer this question, we followed a research strategy based on in‐depth interviews to Italians living in the Athens area. After reviewing the features of the Italian community and those of the group of interviewees, we focus on the respondents who found a job in Athens, both as independent workers and as employees. Our results show that a great number of drivers are at work in producing a migration flow from Italy to Greece. They support the idea that contemporary international migration (more specifically, intra‐European migration) cannot be fully understood by relying exclusively on an economic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews how and to what extent the EU–Turkey Statement of 18 March 2016 has affected the modus operandi of migrant smugglers in the Aegean region and migrants' decisions to interact with them for irregular crossings from Turkey to Greece. It draws on field research, including 46 in‐depth interviews with migrants in Izmir, Turkey, a transit city and migrant smuggling hub. Based on analysis of these narratives and participant observation, it argues that the Statement has generated changes concerning the smugglers' modalities and services while not affecting migrants' decisions to engage with them to reach Europe. Although the Statement aimed to decrease irregular migration, disrupt smugglers' "business models," and open safe routes for migrants, it has instead increased their vulnerability and exploitation to an extent. Accordingly, the article reveals the paradoxical and controversial aspects of the Statement vis‐à‐vis the promises and consequences it generated in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article explores whether the massive arrival of refugees at Greek islands has had an impact on natives’ voting behaviour. Our results show a positive and significant effect of refugees’ presence on votes for the Greek extreme‐right party Golden Dawn. More precisely, we find that a 1 per cent increase in the share of refugees is associated with an increase of 5 per cent in the share of votes for Golden Dawn. This outcome is robust under different estimation methodologies and placebo regressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on in-depth narrative interviews with 64 second-generation Greek-Germans and Greek-Americans who have 'returned' to Greece, this article explores intersections between return, transnationalism and integration. Having grown up with a strong Greek identity in the diaspora, second-generation 'returnees' move to Greece mainly for idealistic, lifestyle and life-stage reasons. However, most find living in Greece long-term a challenging experience: they remark on the corruption and chaos of Greek life, and are surprised at the high level of xenophobia in Greek society, not only towards foreign immigrants but also towards themselves as 'hyphenated Greeks'. The 'return' to Greece provokes new 'reverse' transnational links back to their birth country, where they still need to keep in touch with relatives and friends, including caring obligations towards parents who remain abroad. Some contemplate another 'return', back to the US or Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses second-generation Albanian youth in Athens, Greece, focusing on youths who immigrated with their parents in infancy or early adolescence. It comments on family relations and emotions of love, compassion, debt, and respect for parents. The author considers how the youth balance personal desires and obligations and analyzes their individualism, particularly in planning for the future. Other topics include the education and employment of Albanians in Greece and the collapse of the socialist regime in Albania which caused families to leave.

Our purpose in undertaking this research is to methodically map the labour market circumstances of the main immigrant groups in Greece. We classify all of the Districts of Greece into three categories (Diverse, Mixed and Unmixed) according to the ethnic composition of each District. We measure how the employment status of the immigrants varies (1) according to the ethnic group and sex of the immigrant, and (2) according to the ethnic composition and economic structure of a District. In general, the majority of immigrants exhibit lower unemployment and higher economic activity rates than the indigenous Greeks. Three immigrant groups (Albanians, Bulgarians and 'Other'), which make up two-thirds of the foreign-born population of Greece, have lower unemployment rates than the national average, and lower rates than Greeks as well. The poorest labour market outcomes are observed in Unmixed and Mixed Districts, whereas Diverse Districts are better off. At the regional level, the most disadvantaged Geographical Department is the Ionian Islands, since it presents the highest unemployment rates for the general population for both sexes. With regard to sex-differential unemployment across immigrant groups, we found that women exhibit higher unemployment than men in almost every ethnic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article assesses the effect of migration on the growth and demographic structure of Greece. The key demographic effects and implications include effects on population growth, effects on the age-sex composition, fertility and mortality implications, undocumented immigration, future population dynamics, and future age-structure effects.

In recent decades, the southern European countries of Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece have all undergone transformation from senders to receivers of migrants. On the basis of this common feature, they have been grouped together in recent discussions of migration experiences and prospects. However, as revealed in comparisons made possible by the newly available data set from Greece's first regularization programme, the migration experience of Greece departs radically from that of other southern Europe countries. To an extent unparalleled in southern Europe, Greece has been subject to an immigration impact as the result of the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, some of which share borders with Greece. Characteristics of Greece's major source countries differ from those of other countries of southern Europe (1) in that they are former communist countries that appear to have a long and difficult road of economic transition ahead, (2) with respect to proximity, and (3) in terms of dominance of a single source country. These differences have important implications for future patterns of migration and of articulation of the labour markets of receiving countries with those of specific sending countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores the issue of regularization of Albanian migrants in Greece. Use or a game-theoretic framework in the analysis; Efforts toward regularization of undocumented migrants; Changes in the nature of international migration; Socio-economic integration/exclusion of the migrants.

Examines the impact of illegal immigrants in Greece from both Eastern European countries and other developing countries. Increases in the country's labor supply; Employment of illegal immigrants; Compensation and productivity of illegal immigrants; Competition in employment between immigrants and Greeks; Perception of the community towards the immigrants.

Investigates the economic determinants of Greek return migration to the islands of the East Aegean. Statistics on return migrants; Modelling migration; Models in migration as an investment in human capital; Prediction of future trends of return migration.

Focuses on the changes during the second half of the twentieth century affecting the nature and form of contacts between the gypsy minority in Greece and society. Sedentarisation resulting from forced urban settlement; Gypsy adolescents perception of society; Psycho-social problems due to poverty; Coping strategies.

Data on illegal migration to Greece have recently become available from the Greek Employment Observatory. This article presents some descriptive characteristics of the migrants, including country of origin, marital status, education, age, profession and place of residence. It also provides an analysis of migrants' choice of location within Greece. The majority of illegal migrants are manual or unskilled workers seeking employment mainly in the agricultural sector or in urban areas. There is substantial differentiation between males and females in terms of age, education, marital status and profession. In a limited sense, the data provide support for the idea of "feminization" of migration flows. Large flows of migrants are directed to the urban centres but migration as a proportion of county populations is not higher for the big urban centres (Athens and Thessaloniki) than for others. Migrants' choice of place of residence are not affected by the rate of unemployment. Males are attracted to areas with significant agricultural production and females to urban centres. Females are willing to travel longer distances in order to find employment, but for males distance is an insignificant factor. Per capita gross domestic product is an important factor only when migration flows are measured as a proportion of the population. Although the analysis does not justify strong policy statements, it indirectly provides some basis for arguing that allowing or tolerating illegal migration is not the best policy from the point of view of national interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]