The influence of cultural factors on the reidentification of Ukrainian refugees

In: Transitions: journal of transient migration, Band 7, Heft 1, S. 71-89

Abstract

Refugees experience double cultural trauma: both because of war and moving abroad. The process of moving abroad is accompanied by disruption of habitual social connections and causes restoration of those connections. Identity needs the proof of Others, forcing refugees to engage in processes of interaction. The theoretical concept of ethnomethodology allows the authors to trace the process of restoring these ties: how refugees present themselves and define themselves as Ukrainians with the help of cultural factors embedded in daily practices. We observe the rise of Ukrainian identity with the start of war in 2014 and then escalation in 2022. Research of the national identity of Ukrainian refugees in Germany has been based on unique survey data gathered in June 2022 using the Google Forms online survey tool (Germany, June 2022, n = 423). Survey questions were used to measure the components of national identity: constructive patriotism, civic citizenship, ethnic citizenship. We rely also on representative statistical data gathered by Ukrainian research centres and the UNHCR data portal. In conclusion it is seen that cultural factors help the process of reidentification of Ukrainian refugees.