The claim to successfully have eliminated racism and xenophobia in socialist Germany was crucial for the GDR’s demarcation against the Federal Republic and for GDR’s political self-conception. According to the state party SED, both the GDR’s government and its people met with all members of the working class, regardless their ethnicity or culture, in the spirit of Völkerfreundschaft – the peoples’ friendship. In the early 1960s, suffering from a lack of work power, the GDR began to recruit foreign workers, and continued to do so up until German reunification. When workers arrived from Eastern Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, the propositions of antiracism and peoples’ friendship were tested in practice. Following a discourse-analytical approach this study analyzes how the ideal of Völkerfreundschaft was reproduced, exploited and altered both by citizens communicating with the state and within party-loyal circles. It examines when, why and by whom ethnicity was downplayed in favor of common class affiliation, and under which circumstances it regained importance. While latest research on foreigners in the GDR has focused on diagnosing the discrepancy between ideological claims and reality this study goes beyond such an approach and analyzes how this discrepancy was dealt with – both by state authorities, the state-owned factories and ordinary people – in everyday life.   This study is a contribution to migration research, as well as to everyday-life-history and history of mentality in the GDR.

Thesis -- Departmental honors in German. / Bibliography: ℓ. 94-104.

This study was undertaken to investigate the motivation, intention, self-efficacy, culture, business support,entrepreneurial orientation and business performance of South African and immigrant entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Gauteng province. The performance of the SMEs was investigated, and the reasons and gaps that have led to the assumed low competitive ranking and poor performance of South African entrepreneurs compared to immigrant entrepreneurs were analysed. A structured research instrument (questionnaire) was used to collect data through interviews and a self-administered survey. A total of 466 questionnaires out of 500 questionnaires that had been distributed to respondents by six fieldworkers were returned (93.2%) for analysis.A number of hypotheses were postulated to address the study aims and the collected data were analysed to answer the hypotheses. The results of the study showed a significant correlation between motivation and business performance (a motivated entrepreneur is more likely to succeed in business than an unmotivated entrepreneur) and a significant positive correlation between culture and motivation to start a business (a culture that is supportive of entrepreneurial activities, lowuncertainty avoidance, high individualism and lowpower distance relates positively to a high level of entrepreneurial self-efficacy).The results also showed a significant difference between the mean values of business performance and the education of the owner. It is suggested that the government creates a favourable climate to allow entrepreneurs to release their potential. The government can help by making complex legislation easier for start-ups and reducing the tax burden on new entrepreneurs. / Business Management / D. Comm. (Business Management)

Les changements politiques qui ont eu lieu dans les pays de l’Est européen depuis 1989 ont eu pour conséquence l’ouverture des frontières des ex-pays communistes, facilitant les départs et les retours des leurs citoyens. La transformation économique qui se poursuit dans cette région de l’Europe a toutes ces conséquences :la hausse du chômage, les salaires très peu élevés, les difficultés économiques observées notamment dans les régions rurales etc. Tout cela provoque un déplacement de personnes qui, cherchant leur terre d’exile, cherchant une vie meilleure, se dirigent de l’Est vers l’Ouest du continent. <p>En 1991, le Royaume de Belgique a changé la législation concernant les citoyens polonais en leur accordant l’entrée libre, sans visas, pour un séjour touristique de trois mois. Cette modification de la loi a initié une nouvelle vague migratoire provenant de Pologne. <p><p>Notre étude concerne le milieu immigré polonais de Bruxelles, avec une prise en considération particulière de la question de la naissance et le fonctionnement d’un nouveau type d’organisation sociale qu’est la communauté transnationale. L’approche théorique de cette recherche est basée sur les études récentes relatives aux communautés transnationales. A partir de travaux de Alejandro Portes, Douglas Massey et Saskia Sassen, Robert Cohen et Steven Vertovec nous pouvons définir une communauté transnationale comme une nouvelle forme de vie sociale qui est composée d’immigrés vivant dans le pays d’accueil, des familles et des enfants des migrants qui sont dans le pays d’origine, d’anciens immigrés qui sont déjà rentrés dans leur pays d’origine et des migrants potentiels. Les communautés transnationales développent leurs propres entreprises, organisations, institutions et différentes formes de dépendances qui permettent à leurs membres de vivre et travailler dans le pays d’immigration, même sans avoir ni le permis de séjour ni le permis de travail. Le réseau de liens et d’organisations aide aussi la circulation des biens, des fonds financiers, ainsi que des informations entre le pays d’accueil et le pays d’origine. <p><p>Le but de cette recherche est de vérifier l’hypothèse qu’actuellement à Bruxelles se développe une communauté transnationale d’immigrés polonais illégaux. Cette communauté aide les migrants à exister en même temps dans les deux pays ;par exemple gagner de l’argent à Bruxelles et continuer la construction d’une maison dans le village natal, travailler en Belgique et élever des enfants qui sont en Pologne. Nous analysons la formation, les logiques de fonctionnement et l’évolution de la communauté transnationale polonaise implantée à Bruxelles ainsi que les organisations et les institutions, entre autres informelles, aidant les Polonais qui vivent sur le sol belge. Les questions liées à la problématique de l’emploi des immigrés polonais à Bruxelles constituent des éléments importants de notre recherche. L’accès des immigrés polonais au marché informel de l’économie belge, le fonctionnement du secteur du travail illégal, les métiers ethniques, la dynamique d’insertion des Polonais sur le marché de l’emploi bruxellois, les relations entre les patrons belges et les employés polonais ainsi que l’existence du secteur informel des entreprises polonaises nous semble particulièrement intéressant à développer dans le cadre de notre recherche. <p><p>Une analyse approfondie de la communauté polonaise de Bruxelles représente un intérêt non négligeable tant pour la Région de Bruxelles – Capitale que pour l’Etat belge, notamment à cause de l’ampleur de cette immigration. Les ressortissants polonais séjournant en Belgique constituent le premier groupe migrant parmi tous les immigrés originaires de l’Europe centrale et orientale. Dans ce contexte, il nous semble intéressant de connaître cette communauté qui se développe sur le sol belges depuis déjà 15 ans sans aucun statut officiel pendant plusieurs années. <p> / Doctorat en Sciences politiques et sociales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Le but de cette recherché doctorale est d'établir la liaison entre deux phénomènes de mobilité parallèles qui peuvent faire changer une société de manière dramatique. On trouve dans le Maramures deux couloirs de mobilités fort liés entre eux: l’arrivée de personnes vers la région, qui consiste surtout en tourisme rural, et le départ des personnes originaires de la région vers l’étranger, qui est représenté par la migration de travail.<p>Le tourisme rural est encastré dans un contexte social, politique et historique particulier. La spécificité supposée de la région est celle d’une authenticité bien préservée, avec un fort usage du discours concernant l’Etat national. Le Maramures est considéré comme une des régions “authentiques”, “archaïques” et “traditionnelles” qui attirent une certaine catégorie de visiteurs, comme c’est souvent le cas du tourisme rural. L’évolution du phénomène touristique est le résultat des intersections complexes des divers acteurs, les migrants jouant un rôle important.<p>Une grande partie des remises de fonds provenant des migrants est investie dans le tourisme rural, d’une manière directe ou indirecte. De plus, ceux-ci fonctionnent comme des médiateurs culturels pour les activités touristiques. La participation à une pratique, tel le tourisme rural ou la migration, facilite souvent l’accès à l’autre, générant ainsi des tensions et clivages sociaux.<p>La croissance continue du tourisme et de la migration est en même temps cause et effet d’une interdépendance entre les modèles culturels et économiques de l’Est et de l’Ouest. /<p><p>The goal of this PhD research is to show the connection between two parallel mobility phenomena that have the potential to dramatically change a local society. There are two strongly linked “mobility corridors” in Maramures. Incoming mobility, i.e. the arrival of foreigners, largely involves tourists, whilst outgoing mobility consists mostly of labour migration.<p>Rural tourism is embedded in a particular social, political and historical context. The alleged specificity of this area is a well-preserved authenticity, with a strong background of national discourse. Maramures is seen as an “authentic”, “archaic” or “traditional” area, so it attracts a particular category of visitor, as is often the case in rural tourism. The evolution of this tourism phenomenon is the result of the complex intersection of different actors’ interests, and migrants play a major role.<p>A large part of the labour migrants’ remittances is invested in rural tourism, directly or indirectly. Moreover, these migrants function as cultural brokers for tourism-related activities. Participation in either rural tourism or migration often facilitates access to the other. However, it also creates tensions and social gaps. <p>The steady growth of tourism and migration is both cause and effect of an interdependence between the cultural and economic models of Eastern and Western societies. / Doctorat en Sciences politiques et sociales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

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In the past decade Zimbabwe has experienced serious economic and political challenges, forcing many to flee in search of better employment opportunities and lifestyles. This research, conducted in Tshwane Gauteng, aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of Zimbabwean economic migrants’ experiences and challenges in relocating and adjusting in South Africa. Employing a qualitative approach, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data which were analysed using Tesch’s framework (in Creswell, 2009:186). The ethical considerations of informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality, debriefing, guidelines for dealing with research data and record management, and honesty with professional colleagues were applied in the research. The research confirms that most Zimbabweans relocated to South Africa for economic reasons and their social and family situations were affected. Challenges were experienced with government officials, in terms of employment, accommodation, education, health services, travelling and with banking institutions. Language barriers and differences in cultural beliefs and values impacted negatively on participants’ socialisation and adjustment. The research shows an alarming lack of social work visibility. The researcher recommends that social work should accept that economic migrants are part of their clientele / Social Work / M.S.W. (Social Work)

The purpose of the study was to locate the informal hiring sites for day labourers in Tshwane, to determine the approximate number of day labourers, to describe the nature of socio-economic activities taking place at the sites, and to make recommendations to address needs that have been identified. The research approach and methodology was exploratory, descriptive, quantitative and qualitative. In terms of the findings, 80 informal hiring sites were identified in Tshwane with approximately 3032 day labourers standing at the sites. Case studies were done on three sites and it was found that they were hazardous and lacked basic facilities such as shelter and toilets. Employer-employee interactions were also found to be haphazard and sometimes manipulative and exploitative. It is recommended that intervention programmes should be implemented which could include the provision of basic facilities, skills development, job search assistance and access to comprehensive social services. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Science - Mental Health)

The purpose of the study was to locate the informal hiring sites for day labourers in Tshwane, to determine the approximate number of day labourers, to describe the nature of socio-economic activities taking place at the sites, and to make recommendations to address needs that have been identified. The research approach and methodology was exploratory, descriptive, quantitative and qualitative. In terms of the findings, 80 informal hiring sites were identified in Tshwane with approximately 3032 day labourers standing at the sites. Case studies were done on three sites and it was found that they were hazardous and lacked basic facilities such as shelter and toilets. Employer-employee interactions were also found to be haphazard and sometimes manipulative and exploitative. It is recommended that intervention programmes should be implemented which could include the provision of basic facilities, skills development, job search assistance and access to comprehensive social services. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Science - Mental Health)

Social Work / D.Phil.(Social work)