Return migration, reintegration and sense of belonging

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Focusing on the issue of belonging as a substantial human social need, this book studies how skilled Ghanaian returnees cope with their return to their country of origin, depending on their previous experiences in Ghana and the foreign country they lived in for a while. Using the empirical basis of qualitative interview data, the book identifies the relationship between reintegration and sense of belonging, and argues that sense of belonging is a dimension of social reintegration for returning migrants. The key findings of this study show that returnees’ definitions of belonging fall into two categories: individual belonging (belonging to a place) and social/collective belonging (politics of belonging). Within these categories, belonging is defined in relation to being accepted, feeling at home, not being treated differently, having responsibilities and ownership. Individual belonging is thus expressed via feelings of attachment to Ghana as a place, resulting from factors such as memories of cultural and family heritage.