The European Dream of Polish Post-Accession Migrants
The European Dream of Polish Post-Accession Migrants

Summary/Abstract: In recent years, post-accession migration, as an important social process, has become the subject of extensive research and analysis by representatives of various scientific disciplines. The causes for migration, the migration process and its outcomes were discussed from different perspectives and in different thematic and methodological contexts. This article is an attempt at viewing the phenomenon of post-accession migration from a novel perspective, one that links it to the category of ‘dreams’ [transl. note: as translated by the Polish term marzenia]. Its main theme revolves around the dreams [marzenia] of those who emigrated from Poland after May 2004. In the text, the author seeks to answer the following research questions: What role did dreams play in the decision to emigrate? Was emigration a dream in itself or merely a means to achieve a dream? What dreams, desires, and ideas did emigrants have about emigration? What were the opportunities to realise dreams before emigration and how are these plans shaping up now (in emigration)? Did emigration prove to be a dream come true or a disappointment? How do respondents evaluate the ‘European dream’ and how do they rate Poland’s presence in the European Union? The article has been compiled from research material consisting of 3264 computer-assisted questionnaire interviews and 15 individual in-depth interviews. The analysis of the material collected has led to the conclusion that ‘dreams’ (hopes and aspirations) should be considered as one of the driving forces behind emigration. As a rule, it is not the main causal factor, but it can be assumed that it is very often accompanied by other causal factors relating directly to, for example, material needs or the desired social status.

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