Spatial patterns of serbian migrants in Vienna and in the settlements of their origin in Eastern Serbia

Abstract

At this moment, the question of immigration became a pan-European issue and it overlaps with other emotional matters such as ethnicity and identity. As a consequence of an increasing globalization, international migrants are targeting primarily larger cities as they provide more opportunities and support networks which are so crucial to newcomers. In the same time, such an immense emigration is significantly influencing development of communities and their places of origin. Vienna has a long tradition of multicultural population, where immigrants from Serbia the largest minority group in the city. Researching Serbian immigrants in Vienna can be used as a reference point in establishing specific characteristics of the group and determine the scope of the idea of „Balkanization” as an urban pattern. The proximity and accessibility of Vienna to homeland is also an important factor for vivid reciprocal influences. Majority of Viennese Serbs is spending holyday time in settlements of their origin. They are also bringing new-acquired habits in this environment, transforming old spatial patterns. This process is especially observable in the case of Eastern Serbia, as a part of country with the highest level of emigration. Thus, specific spatial patterns are recognizable in both cases - as well in Vienna as in Eastern Serbia. The aim of this paper is to present these “mixed” patterns. Finally, the contribution of the paper is to open academic and scientific debate about spatial patterns of migrants’ life in these complex spaces that they can be used as a role-model for further research of spatial patterns of “migrant culture”.