Coming ’home’ in times of uncertainty: Return experiences and constructions of home among Swedish mobile families

The research aims to illuminate the motivations, experiences and practices of return among Swedish mobile families. Returning Swedes constitute a significant proportion of incoming migrants to Sweden, yet remain under-researched.

They are seldom considered migrants and often expect a smooth return, but existing knowledge points towards numerous challenges.

Recent events, including Brexit, the global pandemic, the war in Europe, the recession, and accelerating climate change, create a unique impetus for return migration, making this research timely.

We explore migration through a family lens, arguing that family-related priorities and commitments are central to understanding practices of return.

Importantly, we explore the perspective of children in mobile families, which previous research has insufficiently attended to.

The study includes a descriptive analysis of register data, analysis of guidance for returnees from public authorities, and 18-20 family case studies involving interviews with different family members.

In interviews with adults, we will use a narrative interview method, while interviews with children and young people will combine narrative interviews with visual methods, in order to access their experiences of mobility and meaningful relationships.

Our unique research design captures the interplay of individual experiences and the family context in different societal settings, making a significant contribution to knowledge of migration and integration.