Transylvanian Saxon fortified church in Biertan (Birthälm)

295 Pages·2013·4.84 MB·English

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Transylvanian Saxons’ migration from Romania to
Germany: The formation of a ‘return’ diaspora?

Lucia Diana Paul

A Doctoral Thesis
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of
Doctor of Philosophy
Loughborough University

2013

© Lucia Diana Paul 2013
I dedicate this thesis to Alex
Thank you for being an unfailing source of support, guidance and
encouragement
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Abstract
Processes and patterns of migration on a global scale have changed in profound ways
during the last two decades (Smith and King, 2012). In the European context, this is
exemplified by transformations to the traditional mobility patterns from East to West
Europe (Koser and Lutz, 1998), with migrants more likely to be involved in
temporary circular and transnational mobility (Favell, 2008). Since the end of the
Second World War, historical and political events in Europe have facilitated the
mobility of ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe to Germany. Subsequently, the fall of
the Iron Curtain has permitted unrestrained East-West movements, which resulted in
mass migrations towards the West and diaspora fragments in the East. However, after
settlement in the West, ethnic Germans have also been absorbed within wider
temporary and transnational movements (Koser, 2007). Within this context, this
thesis examines the post-migratory lives of three generations of Transylvanian
Saxons in Germany by exploring the cultural, social, economic and political
dimensions of this community. This thesis aims to contribute to on-going academic
debates about diasporas by explicitly responding to Hoerder’s (2002) call for more
studies on ethnic German diasporas. It shows that Transylvanian Saxons, who
relocated to the ancestral homeland, do not disrupt identities and lives forged in
diaspora, but rather, they negotiate complex identities and belongings in relation to
both ‘home’ and ‘homeland’. It reveals a double diaspora and the necessity to perceive
identity and diaspora as dynamic processes and constantly evolving in relation to
time, space and place. This double diasporic allegiance in the case of the
Transylvanian Saxons suggests interrogating the formation of a ‘return’ diaspora and
its importance for processes of international migration.
Key words: Transylvanian Saxons, Romania, migration, Germany, cultural identity,
‘return’ diaspora.
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Table of contents
Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
Table of contents ....................................................................................................................................... 3
List of figures ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ 12
Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Research context ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Research rationale ................................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Diaspora, transnationalism and cultural identity ....................................................... 3
1.4 Aim and objectives .................................................................................................................. 7
1.5 Outline of the thesis ................................................................................................................ 8
Chapter 2: Exploring the connections between diaspora, transnational migration
and cultural identity ............................................................................................................................... 10
2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 10
2.2 Diaspora – a contested and a paradoxical concept? ................................................. 11
2.3 Migration and transnationalism ...................................................................................... 17
2.4 Cultural identity ..................................................................................................................... 23
2.4.1 Interrogating cultural identity ................................................................................. 23
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2.4.2 Cultural identity in relation to integration and assimilation ....................... 27
2.5 Diaspora and diasporic return.......................................................................................... 32
2.5.1 Geographies of diaspora ............................................................................................. 32
2.5.2 Return diaspora: contested identities and communities .............................. 34
Chapter 3: Historical background ................................................................................................. 37
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 37
3.2 Transylvanian Saxons pre-Second World War .......................................................... 37
3.3 Transylvanian Saxons’ ‘return’ to Germany ................................................................ 41
3.4 The policies surrounding the migration of ethnic Germans ................................. 50
3.5 Transylvanian Saxons’ distinct identity ........................................................................ 54
Chapter 4: Research methodology ............................................................................................... 56
4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 56
4.2 Research methods ................................................................................................................. 58
4.2.1 Secondary data ............................................................................................................... 58
4.2.1.1 Statistical resources ............................................................................................ 58
4.2.1.2 Qualitative secondary resources .................................................................... 60
4.2.2 Semi-structured interviews ...................................................................................... 62
4.2.2.1 Interview sample and access ........................................................................... 62
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4.2.2.2 Semi-structured interviews ............................................................................. 64
4.2.2.3 Conducting semi-structured interviews in Germany ............................. 65
4.2.3 Participant observation .............................................................................................. 70
4.3 Ethics .......................................................................................................................................... 72
4.3.1 Ethical issues .................................................................................................................. 73
4.3.2 Conducting interviews with people over 65 years old ................................... 74
4.4 Risk .............................................................................................................................................. 76
4.5 Reflection .................................................................................................................................. 76
Chapter 5: Transylvanian Saxons’ life in Romania and their migration to Germany 78
5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 78
5.2 Education and work .............................................................................................................. 78
5.2.1 Transylvanian Saxons’ education in Transylvania ........................................... 79
5.2.2 Transylvanian Saxons’ job performance in Transylvania ............................. 83
5.3 Transylvanian Saxons’ culture in Transylvania ......................................................... 88
5.3.1 Transylvanian Saxons’ cultural performances in Transylvania .................. 89
5.3.2 Transylvanian Saxons’ religious life in Transylvania ...................................... 95
5.4 Transylvanian Saxons’ motives for migration ............................................................ 99
5.4.1 Socio-cultural motives for Transylvanian Saxon migration ...................... 100
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5.4.1.1 Transylvanian Saxon migration: it runs in the family ......................... 100
5.4.1.2 Transylvanian Saxons’ community migration: ‘If everyone leaves, I
will also leave’ ......................................................................................................................... 108
5.4.2 Economic motives for Transylvanian Saxons’ migration ........................... 110
5.4.3 Political motives for Transylvanian Saxons’ migration ............................... 112
5.5 Transylvanian Saxons’ experiences with the migration process ..................... 115
5.5.1 Pre-1990 migration experiences ......................................................................... 115
5.5.1.1 Pre-1990 migrant memories about Transylvania ................................ 115
5.5.1.2 Pre-1990 migrant stories ............................................................................... 117
5.5.1.3 Coming to Germany: the right step? Pre-1990 migrant reflections
………….…………… ...................................................................................................................... 126
5.5.2 Post-1990 migration experiences ....................................................................... 128
5.5.2.1 Transylvania: good or bad memories? ...................................................... 128
5.5.2.2 Post-1990 migrant stories ............................................................................. 130
5.5.2.3 Coming to Germany: the right step? Post-1990 migrant insights .. 134
Chapter 6: Transylvanian Saxons in Germany ...................................................................... 136
6.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 136
6.2 Settlement in Germany ..................................................................................................... 137
6.3 Education and work ........................................................................................................... 139
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6.3.1 Educational situation in Germany ....................................................................... 140
6.3.2 Occupational situation in Germany ..................................................................... 143
6.4 Economic situation in Germany .................................................................................... 144
6.5 Participation in political life ........................................................................................... 148
6.5.1 Involvement in political life ................................................................................... 148
6.5.2 Political awareness .................................................................................................... 152
6.6 Social networks and integration in Germany .......................................................... 153
6.6.1 Social networks ........................................................................................................... 153
6.6.2 Integration in Germany ........................................................................................... 164
6.6.2.1 ‘I feel integrated in Germany’ ....................................................................... 164
6.6.2.2 The identity paradox ........................................................................................ 166
6.7 Maintaining contacts in Transylvania ......................................................................... 170
Chapter 7: Transylvanian Saxon cultural heritage and contemporary German
culture……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 183
7.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 183
7.2 ‘Old Heimat’ and ‘New Heimat’ ...................................................................................... 184
7.3 Maintaining Transylvanian Saxon heritage .............................................................. 189
7.3.1 Transylvanian Saxon cultural heritage .............................................................. 190
7.3.2 The changing role of religion ................................................................................. 199
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7.4 The Annual Assembly of Transylvanian Saxons ..................................................... 204
7.4.1 Dinkelsbühl: the setting of the Transylvanian Saxon Annual Assembly
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 204
7.4.2 The programme of the Transylvanian Saxon Annual Assembly .............. 209
7.5 Clash of cultures? ................................................................................................................ 218
7.5.1 Transylvanian Saxon cultural identity ............................................................... 218
7.5.2 Relationship between Transylvanian Saxon and ‘local’ German culture
………………………………………………………………………………………………………223
7.6 Summary ................................................................................................................................ 224
Chapter 8: Discussion and conclusion...................................................................................... 228
8.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 228
8.2 The key findings of the thesis ........................................................................................ 228
8.2.1 Key findings in relation to the research objectives....................................... 229
8.2.2 Key findings in relation to the cultural, social, economic and political
aspects of Transylvanian Saxons’ lives in Germany ...................................................... 234
8.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 238
References ............................................................................................................................................... 241
Appendix A: Semi-structured interview guide ........................................................................ 261
Appendix B: List of respondents ................................................................................................... 264
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