Subjektivität und Kausalität in der Migration(sforschung) – Annäherungen an Rationalisierungen von Migrationsentscheidungen in schrumpfenden Regionen

Abstract

Based on qualitative research on livescapes in peripheralized regions, claims have surfaced within the recently rejuvenated debate on peripheralization to not only focus on socio-structural aspects of spatial disparities, but also to consider the effects of discursive ascriptions. Using early findings from the research project “Discourse and practices in shrinking regions. An analysis of the subjective relevance of shrinkage discourses using the example of the municipality of Altenburger Land”, we demonstrate how different professionals conceptualize alleged causal relations between financial subsidies for “culture” or “infrastructure” and migration-related decisions. Furthermore, we illuminate their rationalizations of these decisions and take also the subjective aspects of migrations that may contradict their views into consideration. We conclude our chapter with a summary of the important uncertainties in the research of migration as well as regarding the political practice of dealing with migration-related decisions.

Keywords

• Culture
• Infrastructure
• Subject
• Shrinkages
• Peripheralization
• Altenburg