Return to the ancestral homeland

Book chapter

Christou, A. 2025. Return to the ancestral homeland. in: Oso, L., Ribas-Mateos, N. and Moralli, M. (ed.) Elgar Encyclopedia of Global Migration: New Mobilities and Artivism Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 493-495
Chapter titleReturn to the ancestral homeland
AuthorsChristou, A.
Abstract

While there is no universally accepted definition of the phenomenon of return migration to the ancestral home countries, the most simplistic rendition of what it entails for a migrant, is the act and process of going back to the point of departure: either the regional or wider geographic location of the country of origin of the migrant ancestors. That is, the ancestral homeland. This type of return could refer to either, a conscious individual migrant, or, a collective family, decision to leave a particular host country and return permanently to the country of origin. This is effectively a return to one’s ‘roots’ (Christou, 2013). In this entry we will cover some of the core questions of the phenomenon of return to the ancestral homeland: What is the scope, context and factors that lead to return to the ancestral homeland? What are some of the major challenges and the impact of return on the migrant, the host and the ancestral home countries?

KeywordsReturn; Migration; Home country; Ancestral homeland; Belonging; Nostalgia
Sustainable Development Goals16 Peace, justice and strong institutions
Middlesex University ThemeCreativity, Culture & Enterprise
Page range493-495
Book titleElgar Encyclopedia of Global Migration: New Mobilities and Artivism
EditorsOso, L., Ribas-Mateos, N. and Moralli, M.
PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing
SeriesElgar Encyclopedias in the Social Sciences
ISBN
Hardcover9781035300372
Electronic9781035300389
Publication dates
Online21 Jan 2025
Print21 Jan 2025
Publication process dates
Deposited04 Feb 2025
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Restricted
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035300389.ch161
Related Output
Is part ofhttps://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/elgar-encyclopedia-of-global-migration-9781035300372.html
Is part ofhttps://doi.org/10.4337/9781035300389
LanguageEnglish
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