From fluid migration to stable circular migration: A case study from Hungary

Abstract

This article provides insight into long-term international migration flows to Hungary from 2006 to 2012. The article distinguishes territorial systems embedded in migration and circular inflows. It discusses the concept of international circular migration from an inward perspective. Second, it studies the spatial and temporal changes in the structure of first-time international migrants and circulators using unique tables. Finally, it maps circular migration around this new immigration country. The patterns are generated by the practice of international migrants in combination with the migration policies of the receiving governmental actors. It concludes that circulators lend a sort of stability to the immigration system. Based on an analysis of statistical tables, circular immigration flows remained relatively stable even from a spatial perspective. Exploring stability in the context of circular migration is one of the main innovative approaches of this article.

The reception and integration of refugees from Ukraine in Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary – the New Immigration Destinations of Central Europe

“…The country's profile shifted from a sending country to a "receiving and transit country", and then an NID two decades ago, alongside the country's EU accession. The share of migrants in the Hungarian population increased from 1.5% at the turn of millennia (Illés et al, 2022) to 4% between 2011 and 2016, when the majority of foreigners were EU nationals (Gyollai, 2018;Bálint et al, 2017). Then, steady increase since 2016 resulted in the number of foreigners totalling almost 585,000 people in 2021, which constituted over 6% of the overall population of Hungary (United Nations, 2022;European Commission, 2021).…”