LONDON’S POLISH BORDERS Class and Ethnicity of Global City Migrants **** Embassy of the Republic of Poland London, 17 May 2006 Michał P. Garapich CRONEM University of Surrey/Roehampton University Jagiellonian University, Kraków

The arguments Accelerating non-linear migration chain – more to come Accelerating non-linear migration chain – more to come Breaking through class Breaking through class Fragmentation of the community Fragmentation of the community Whiteness as resource Whiteness as resource

Word on methodology Qualitative research – complementary to quantitative Qualitative research – complementary to quantitative Participant observation Participant observation Multi-local ethnography Multi-local ethnography 50 in-depth interviews with Polish migrants in London 50 in-depth interviews with Polish migrants in London 14 interviews with family and friends of migrants in 5 locations in Poland (urban/rural areas) 14 interviews with family and friends of migrants in 5 locations in Poland (urban/rural areas)

Sample 23 F, 27 M 23 F, 27 M 28% below 25 28% below 25 58% % % 40 up 10% 40 up 22% high edu, 68% sec’y edu, 10% students 22% high edu, 68% sec’y edu, 10% students 28% rural, 40% below 50k town, 32% 50k up 28% rural, 40% below 50k town, 32% 50k up

Transnational Europeans – looking both ways Circular, temporal, open-ended migrations Circular, temporal, open-ended migrations 80% make frequent (sometimes up to 10 times a year) visits to Poland checking out the situation 80% make frequent (sometimes up to 10 times a year) visits to Poland checking out the situation 70% of respondents maintain strong economic and life interest in their home community 70% of respondents maintain strong economic and life interest in their home community 24% have bought or are just about to buy a flat or house in Poland from money earned in London 24% have bought or are just about to buy a flat or house in Poland from money earned in London

Chain migration 60% have arranged employment/accommodation or useful tips for newcomers (migration chain brokers) 60% have arranged employment/accommodation or useful tips for newcomers (migration chain brokers) 40% have received such help at the beginning 40% have received such help at the beginning Polish end of the research – growing readiness to migrate Polish end of the research – growing readiness to migrate

Should I stay or should I go….? 20% say that they are definitely going to come back soon to live in Poland 20% say that they are definitely going to come back soon to live in Poland 14% say that they will definitely not come back to Poland 14% say that they will definitely not come back to Poland And the rest?

Intentional unpredictability most common statements: “Hard to answer that question. Being there [in Poland] last time for the first time I felt that I would like to stay there… so I don’t know…” (INT9Lon.Laura) “Hard to answer that question. Being there [in Poland] last time for the first time I felt that I would like to stay there… so I don’t know…” (INT9Lon.Laura) “I don’t know. No clue. Maybe yes, maybe not; maybe in three months maybe in ten years. I don’t know…” (INT30Lon.Kordian) “I don’t know. No clue. Maybe yes, maybe not; maybe in three months maybe in ten years. I don’t know…” (INT30Lon.Kordian) “I don’t know…I’m not able to say now…” (INT4Lon.Pawel) “I don’t know…I’m not able to say now…” (INT4Lon.Pawel) “I want to come back… but don’t know when” (INT20Lon.Wojciech) “I want to come back… but don’t know when” (INT20Lon.Wojciech)

How long do you think you will stay in the UK? (WRS question) 50% – NOT STATED! 50% – NOT STATED! (total answers: 175,507 between May 2004 and Dec 2005)

Intentional unpredictability Intentional unpredictability adapted to: Deregulated, flexible, contractual London service economy and UK labour market in general Deregulated, flexible, contractual London service economy and UK labour market in general Socio-economic situation in Poland Socio-economic situation in Poland Allows to shift their plans accordingly Allows to shift their plans accordingly Helps to keep the best of both worlds Helps to keep the best of both worlds

Breaking through class Class? What class? Class? What class? Individualism and the myth of meritocracy Individualism and the myth of meritocracy Moving out = moving up Moving out = moving up Two reference points in constructing a class position Two reference points in constructing a class position

Ethnicity – double edged sword Competition on the same market Competition on the same market Risk of being exploited by co-ethnics – national sentiment trap Risk of being exploited by co-ethnics – national sentiment trap Fear of association with the wrong crowd, shame, fear of loss of reputation Fear of association with the wrong crowd, shame, fear of loss of reputation

Q: “You travel on the LU and there are some drunken Poles loudly swearing. What do you feel?” Q: “You travel on the LU and there are some drunken Poles loudly swearing. What do you feel?” A: “What I feel? Disgust. Disgust because I’m also a Pole and simply I… automatically think that people who were looking kindly at me before may change their mind because they will associate them with me… and that once I get a drink I would behave like them … “ A: “What I feel? Disgust. Disgust because I’m also a Pole and simply I… automatically think that people who were looking kindly at me before may change their mind because they will associate them with me… and that once I get a drink I would behave like them … “ ( INT21Lon.Waldemar )

End of community K. Sword – “community is in decline” (1994) K. Sword – “community is in decline” (1994) Fragmentation of the community; rise of complex set of sub-groups, formal and informal transnational networks Fragmentation of the community; rise of complex set of sub-groups, formal and informal transnational networks London’s Superdiversity (Stephen Vertovec 2005) – not only ethnic, cultural but also shaped by migration patterns, diversity of transnational migrants’ strategies London’s Superdiversity (Stephen Vertovec 2005) – not only ethnic, cultural but also shaped by migration patterns, diversity of transnational migrants’ strategies

Multiculturalism through Polish eyes Enthusiastic approach – educational value Enthusiastic approach – educational value Pragmatic approach – “everyone can make it here”, “I got used to it” Pragmatic approach – “everyone can make it here”, “I got used to it” Racist approach – colour coded Racist approach – colour coded Self-criticism - 80% say that Poles are intolerant and that they could not imagine London’s multiculturalism in Poland Self-criticism - 80% say that Poles are intolerant and that they could not imagine London’s multiculturalism in Poland

Whiteness as resource: Construction of European identity Construction of European identity Attitudes of British society towards Polish migrants Attitudes of British society towards Polish migrants

“ The New Europeans are hard-working, presentable, well educated, and integrate so perfectly that they will disappear within a generation” “ The New Europeans are hard-working, presentable, well educated, and integrate so perfectly that they will disappear within a generation” (Anthony Browne, The Spectator, Jan ) “ We have no problem with immigration from Poland, which is valuable to all sides… The government must make a reduction in numbers from elsewhere. What they could do is reduce the number of work permits for the rest of the world.” “ We have no problem with immigration from Poland, which is valuable to all sides… The government must make a reduction in numbers from elsewhere. What they could do is reduce the number of work permits for the rest of the world.” (Sir Andrew Green, BBC Today, Nov ) (Sir Andrew Green, BBC Today, Nov )

Conclusions More to come – sustainable migration system More to come – sustainable migration system Social advancement – intentional unpredictability, double reference Social advancement – intentional unpredictability, double reference Fragmentation of community Fragmentation of community Pragmatic approach to ethnicity – whiteness as resource Pragmatic approach to ethnicity – whiteness as resource

Preliminary report will be available on: Funding from the ESRC is gratefully acknowledged