Dr Anita Brzozowska’s project, funded in the competition for research projects at CESS

09 10 2024

The project of dr Anita Brzozowska from the Centre of Migration Research “Aspiracje młodych migrantów z Ukrainy w czasach ultraniepewności” was funded in the competition for research projects at the Centre of Excellence in Social Sciences.

The project received funding in the amount of 74 659,00 PLN.

Aspirations of young migrants from Ukraine in times of ultra-uncertainty The large-scale migration of Ukrainians after the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, has drawn widespread attention from researchers and policymakers as it has created new social, economic, and political challenges for the migrants themselves, host countries and Ukraine. While much research has focused on Ukrainian migrants’ entry into labour markets, the education system and pupils from Ukraine or the support provided by Polish society, the state and the diaspora, there is limited understanding of how migrants’ longer-term aspirations are shaped under conditions of multi-level uncertainty in the country of origin (i.e. the unpredictable end of the war and the potential onsetof the country’s reconstruction efforts) and the host country alike (i.e. the lack of a comprehensive andcohesive migration policy in Poland, announcements of the reduction or termination of assistance torefugees as well as changing social attitudes, including the rise of anti-Ukrainian sentiment). Againstthis backdrop, it is crucial to understand how young adults envision their futures and what factors enable or hinder the realization of their aspirations, especially at critical junctures of their lives, such as entering the workforce or completing their education.

The project aims to fill this gap by employing a dynamic and comparative perspective (comparing the trajectories of migrants who came to Poland after February 24, 2022, with those who arrived before the full-scale war in Ukraine) to explore the aspirations and decision-making processes of young Ukrainians (aged 18-35) in Poland. In the course of a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews, we aim to understand how migration aspirations and more broadly defined life aspirations involving not only spatial but also social mobility emerge and evolve. How do individuals construct visions of the future influenced by previous experiences, cultural norms and structural conditions in their country of origin and potential destination countries? We will seek answers to questions regarding the impact of the ongoing war on migrants’ aspirations and attempt to identify the difficulties and barriers that young migrants from Ukraine face in achieving their aspirations in Poland. The study also investigates the resources, such as social and economic capital, that these young adults rely on to overcome obstacles and make strategic decisions in their migration projects. By examining the barriers and Opportunities that affect their ability to achieve their goals, the study seeks to provide a comprehensive view of how young migrants navigate their futures amidst geopolitical instability and institutional uncertainty.