Cultural Identity as a Specific Dimension of the Socio-Cultural Dynamics: Refugees in Temerin

Abstract

The paper is based upon research that consisted of a series of interviews conducted with refugees in the municipality of Temerin in Serbia, during the fall of 2011. The objective of this research was to analyze the identity of refugees and the degree of their social integration. The assumption was that dimensions of their identity may show and point to the problems and difficulties of their social integration. The identity of the refugees is analyzed within the socio-cultural context, because migration always occurs in a specific spatial and socio-cultural configuration. Refugees as migrants are exposed to the influences of economic, political and cultural structures of the society. The data shows that the circumstances of war and exile contributed significantly to strengthening the ethnic identity of refugees and that it is still a very important dimension of their cultural identity. Refugees have, in most cases, a positive experience and feelings of acceptance by their neighbors, friends and other inhabitants of Temerin, which indicates a high degree of their social integration.

Keywords

• socio-cultural dynamics
• cultural identity
• ethnic identity
• refugees
• Temerin
• Serbia