Dilemmas Faced by Polish Migrants in the UK Concerning Brexit and Return Migration

In: Chrześcijaństwo, świat, polityka: zeszyty społecznej myśli Kościoła, Heft 27, S. 201-222

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an original quantitative sociological study conducted in Autumn 2019 on a sample of 620 Polish migrants living in London, Oxford, and Swindon. The study was conducted using a group-administered questionnaire. It was primarily to address the question of whether they intend to return to Poland and when. We identify some significant factors influencing their choices. Those are the length of stay in England, their financial situation, their knowledge of English, their ability to assimilate culturally, their relations to the families in Poland, homesickness, and better religious education of children. Religious issues, although mentioned, are less critical; however, a deeper statistical analysis allows to understand the religious background more broadly, to provide a clearer image of the respondents' deep motivations.