Abstract
The Greek diaspora in the UK underwent substantial changes as the UK emerged as one of the most popular destinations for the large-scale emigration that followed Greece’s economic crisis. Not only has its size more than tripled within a decade, it has also diversified socioeconomically. These developments have brought the Greek migrants in the UK centre stage in discussions in Greece about brain-drain and brain-gain, as well as on diaspora engagement and return. Drawing on a nationwide survey, compiled via web-based respondent-driven sampling, the aim of this chapter is twofold. First, it assesses the changing socioeconomic and demographic profile of the Greek diaspora in the UK. Second, it explores the return plans and aspirations of UK-based Greeks, as well as their ability and willingness to contribute to Greece at times of crisis and beyond. The findings suggest that UK-based Greeks are reluctant to return to Greece in the short term but leave this option open for the future. Simultaneously, and despite ambivalent feelings towards their homeland and the Greek state, many express willingness to engage in collaborations with professionals and institutions in Greece and/or contribute through voluntary work, know-how transfers, mentorship and fundraising actions.
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Notes
- 1.
This number concerns the emigration flow and not the actual emigrant population. Taking into account return migration rates, as captured in Labrianidis & Pratsinakis, 2016 and according to data from statistic offices in the major destinations of the new Greek migrants, we estimate the post-2010 emigrant population of Greek citizens currently living abroad at approximately 400,000 people.
- 2.
As those derive from the data of the Office of National Statistics on gross household income by income decile group UK.
- 3.
However, it should be noted that as Table 6.1 shows there are many more high-income receivers among graduates of education and arts and humanities when compared to those without tertiary-level education.
- 4.
People living in London and the South East were found to have experienced less discrimination when compared to people who live in other parts of the UK, even though differences are not that pronounced. Fifty-eight per cent in those two regions noted they were never discriminated against, compared to 53% in the overall sample.
- 5.
When the survey was conducted the bill that eventually facilitated Greek diasporans to vote for Greek parliamentary elections from abroad had not yet passed.
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Pratsinakis, M., Kafe, A. (2022). The Greek Diaspora in the UK during the Crisis: Socioeconomic Integration, Prospects of Return and Aspects of Engagement. In: Anastasakis, O., Pratsinakis, M., Kalantzi, F., Kamaras, A. (eds) Diaspora Engagement in Times of Severe Economic Crisis. Migration, Diasporas and Citizenship. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97443-5_6
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