Elusive Development

The Disillusionment of Migration Studies in Socialist Yugoslavia

Bibliographic Data

ID22010113
AuthorsU Brunnbauer (0000-0003-0443-6461, Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume14
Issue2
Pages252-271
Publication date2025-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMigration and Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2163-2324 • E-ISSN: 2163-2332
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/21632324251323322
OpenAlexW4409392670
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited13

This article analyses the emergence of modern migration studies in socialist Yugoslavia and their contribution to the debate on the development effects of migration. In the mid-1960s after massive outmigration from Yugoslavia to Western Europe started, the government supported the establishment of migration studies as a new scientific field. This article argues that migration research was initially closely aligned with political agendas. Development was a priority in policymaking, which is why Yugoslav migration research was strongly interested in the development impact of migration. This study shows, however, that scholars became increasingly sceptical about such an effect. Instead, some highlighted the limitations on development of the restrictions on private business created in Yugoslavia’s self-managed economy. The government thus decided to blame the messenger and disbanded the leading migration research centre in Zagreb. This article is based on the analysis of original research from that time, archival documents and expert interviews

Development economics · Economic geography · Economics · Geography · Political economy · Political science · Sociology · Balkans: History, Politics, Society

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Open DOIOpen Access