East European Diasporas, Migration and Cosmopolitanism

Following the collapse of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, there were considerable migration flows, the migrations and subsequent diasporas often having special characteristics given the relative lack of migration in communist times and the climate of increasing nationalism which had the potential of working against multiculturalism. This book explores these migrations and diasporas, and examines the nature of the associated cosmopolitanism.

Following the demise of the USSR in 1991, and the ensuing collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, widespread population movements took place across Central and Eastern Europe. Whole nations disappeared and (re)-emerged and diasporic transnational ties and belonging have experienced a revival. This book explores some of the many different facets of diasporic life and migration across Central and Eastern Europe by specifically employing the concept of cosmopolitanism. It examines aspects of migrants’ everyday lives and identities, considers some of the difficulties faced by migrant minorities in being accepted and integrated in the host societies, but also examines questions of citizenship and diasporic politics.