Losing, Creating and Re-creating Home and Belonging

Abstract

AbstractSo far, geography scholars have theorized the emotional dimension of citizenship as home and belonging, while relevant scholarly literature treats both concepts as complex and multi-dimensional. This chapter aims to contribute to this literature by exploring the returnees’ understanding of home and belonging. The life experience of my study participants makes this exploration particularly interesting, as its simplified version includes at least three phases: the initial loss of home in BiH, followed by an effort at homemaking in the host state, and ending with an attempt to re-create their home upon return. Along these three stages, the returnees experience various types of belonging, exclusion from belonging both at home and abroad, as well as in-betweenness and multiple belonging. Throughout the process of loss, building and re-building of home and the associated types of belonging, the returnees experience specific emotions, which create links to the overarching concept of emotional citizenship. Expressly, this chapter answers the research questions: What do ‘home’ and ‘belonging’ mean to the returnees? What do they associate these concepts with? Which specific emotions do they convey?