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‘Young, gifted and back’: second-generation transnational return migrants to the Caribbean

Department of Geography, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 227, Reading RG6 6AB, UK

This paper presents the findings of an exploratory study of a relatively new group of Caribbean migrants, namely second-generation overseas-born Barbadians who have decided to migrate to the country of birth of at least one of their parents, paying particular attention to the development-oriented implications of these migrants. After a brief review of the circumstances surrounding this relatively new and innovative migratory cohort, the insights gained from in-depth interviews with 25 such migrants are presented. The account focuses in particular on the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the young returnees, as well as their pattern of visits to the island prior to migration, and the reasons for their move. The paper then tentatively explores the adjustments made by the returnees and those that they feel they still face. In a number of respects, the essentially ‘hybrid’ and ‘inbetween’ positionality of these young transnational migrants is emphasized. Thus, they report difficulties in making friends (especially female friends), problems regarding their accents, feeling like an outsider, culture shock, the Americanization of society, being regarded as ‘mad’, aspects of resentment and having to accept things as they are. Through the analysis, issues of national and racial identity are shown to be of particular salience.

Key Words: Barbados • Caribbean • national identities • racial identities • second-generation returning nationals • transnational migrants

Progress in Development Studies, Vol. 5, No. 3, 213-236 (2005)
DOI: 10.1191/1464993405ps114oa


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