Permanently Provisional: History, Facts & Figures of Portuguese Immigration in Switzerland

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the main demographic, social, and economic characteristics of Portuguese immigration in Switzerland. Firstly, it outlines the political and economic underpinnings of Portuguese migration flows to Switzerland. Then, it analyzes the demographic and sociological composition of these flows, the composition of the Portuguese population in Switzerland, as well as processes of economic and cultural integration. It is notably argued that the enduring Portuguese “ideology of return migration” has played a central role in the patterns of integration of Portuguese immigrants in Switzerland.

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“…Several earlier studies have shown that only a part of ageing immigrants actually intend to return to their country of origin after retirement, even if this was their initial plan. The ideal of return seems to be quite present among Portuguese first generation immigrants (see Afonso, 2015;Baganha, 2003). However, instead of returning permanently, commuting between host country and country of origin can be a preferred alternative (see e.g., Bolzmann et al, 2006, concerning ageing Italian andSpanish immigrants in Switzerland, or De Coulon &, for different groups of ageing immigrants in France).…”

Measuring and Accounting for the Deprivation Gap of Portuguese Immigrants in Luxembourg

“…To the extent that the poor performance of Portuguese immigrants does not appear to be limited to Luxembourg, as suggested by Kalter and Granato (), Bauer et al . (), Brinbaum and Kieffer () or Afonso (), our application provides an assessment of potentially broader relevance for all European countries which also share an important population of Portuguese residents.…”

“…Both are also consistent with the housing investment choice of diaspora migrants (and/or transmigrants), who view their migration decision as a temporary sacrifice to “achieve a better life” upon their return to their native land (Constant et al ., ). This notion of temporary migration is largely shared by all Portuguese communities in Northern Europe (Afonso, ; Borges, ).…”

“…Portuguese have also established sizeable communities in Switzerland and Canada since the late 1950s. In all these countries, the first cohort of Portuguese migrants were brought in to fulfil shortages of “low‐skilled” and “manual trades” workers (Afonso, ; Bauer et al ., ; Teixeira and da Rosa, ). After the immigration stoppage in Europe in 1973 or the establishment of a point system in Canada in 1967, Portuguese migrants continued to settle in these countries mainly through family reunification programs.…”

“…After the immigration stoppage in Europe in 1973 or the establishment of a point system in Canada in 1967, Portuguese migrants continued to settle in these countries mainly through family reunification programs. Up to this day, Portuguese migrants continue to be characterized by low educational attainment and remain disproportionally concentrated in low skilled blue‐collar jobs (Afonso, ; Bauer et al ., ; Borges, ; Clifton, ). It remains, however, that little scholarly work has explored in depth their socioeconomic integration internationally.…”