Macquarie University

Croatian Migrations and Transnational Identities - CROA240

Croatia has one of the most marked and longest traditions of emigration among the European countries and emigration plays a large part in Croatian history. The first mass migration from the territory of today's Republic of Croatia was caused by the Ottoman wars. The emigration continued in the second half of 19th century until the beginning of World War I. In the post World War I Croatia continued to experience economic and political difficulties and emigration from Croatia continued. However, it changed significantly as the countries of immigration began to limit the flow of immigrants. The political consequences of the World War II as well as political and economic circumstances in the post-war period generated a great wave of emigration. In the immediate post-war years alone approximately 250,000 left Croatia. The period of socialism (1945-1990) saw new waves of emigration as many fled from communist regime. The end of socialism and the dissolution of Yugoslavia initiated yet another wave of mass emigration.

This unit will explore a complex and multidimensional space of migration activity, its causes, formation of émigré Croatian communities and associations in their host countries, the role of those societies played in preserving national and ethnic awareness and the material and political assistance provided for their homeland in critical moments of history.