engleski

Sociocultural adjustments of Bosnian refugees in Croatia

This study is aimed at identifying some basic assumptions and perspectives of the potential acculturation and integration processes, through existing types of contacts between the refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the host society in Croatia. As the refugees come from different parts of central and western Bosnia and Herzegovina i.e., from the Dinaric mountain area, while the host community belongs to another cultural area, both characterized by specific features formed under different civilisation and cultural influences (Oriental and Latin), the analysis is focussed on the suspensive influence of cultural and ethnic traditions on the anatomy of the initial acculturation process and potential subsequent sociocultural integration of refugees as well as on the possible changes in primary cultural models of both groups. The shape of evolving relationships in the new location is analysed with regard to a number of factors, including war as the cause of displacement, the migration experience, the perception of both groups of the duration of exile, the possibility of repatriation or resettlement, economic resources, the objective social organization and cultural differences between the hosts and "strangers" and also the type of existing predisplacement relations. Considering differences and similarities between the newcomers and the host society, special attention is paid to the capacity of both groups to preserve the importance of sometimes minor cultural traits which might be particularly important for their awareness as an ethnic community and the awareness of others who recognize them and accept them for their specific traits.

refugees; adjustment; anthropology

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