Between Two Worlds: Feelings of Belonging in Exile and the Question of ReturnMarije Braakman und and Angela Schlenkhoff

ASIEN – Nr. 104 (2007) pp. 9–22

For millions of people around the world, the condition of ‚refugee-ness‘ is a daily reality. They do not live in a place of their own choice, and live there amid a web of complex relationships and processes. These encompass two different universes: firstly, their own socio-cultural, historical and political roots, which in themselves carry a highly conflictive potential, having forced the refugees into exile; and secondly, the often alien and hostile characteristics of the host society where, at the same time, new localities and senses of homes are created. Such uprooted people are under constant pressure to integrate into the host society as quickly and smoothly as possible without causing too much disturbance, and at the same time to retain their socio-cultural particularities as a conscious decision to be members of the moral community of their fellow compatriots. As Havel’s quotation illustrates (above), this creates various ‚versions‘ of the same person, depending on the situational conditions and demands, and these versions often contradict and conflict with others. Unsurprisingly, then, many of these migrants ask themselves ‚Where do I belong?‘

Manuscript received on 2007-02-17, accepted on 2007-04-25
Keywords: Afghan refugees, exile, watan, concept of home, second generation, socio-cultural situation, identity, migrants