Institute of Sociology NASU

Social needs and problems of forced migrants from Ukraine on the way to social adaptation and integration in the host society (example of Germany)

stmm. 2024 (3): 117-138

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2024.03.117

Full text: https://stmm.in.ua/archive/ukr/2024-3/9.pdf

MAKSYM YENIN, Candidate of Sciences in Sociology (PhD in Sociology), Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology, National Technical University of Ukraine «Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute» (37, Beresteiskyi Ave., Kyiv, 03056)

yeninmaksym@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3835-2429

MYROSLAVA KUKHTA, Doctor of Sciences in Sociology, independent researcher (Kyiv)

miroslavakukhta@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4663-9670

TETIANA PRYKHOD’KO, sociologist, independent researcher, forced migrant in Germany (Saarbrücken)

prixtat01@gmail.com

The article provides a review of existing theoretical approaches to the study of adaptation and integration of migrants, identifying key factors that either facilitate or complicate these processes in host societies. The authors highlight markers of adaptability and integration, emphasizing the importance of utilizing foreign experience for the development of more effective migration policies. Adaptation is a process in which migrants change their habits, behaviour, and values to function most effectively in a new social and cultural context. The authors believe that the level of migrant adaptability can be determined by the level of their needs satisfaction. Integration, alongside adaptation, implies inclusion into a new society with opportunities to realize personal potential in areas such as work, education, civic activities, establishing communication, and comfortable coexistence with the local population. This entails not only the adaptation of migrants to a new society but also mutual efforts from the host community to create conditions under which migrants can fully realize their potential while preserving their cultural peculiarities. Based on primary and secondary sociological data, the social needs and problems of migrants from Ukraine (using Germany as an example) are analysed. The profile of migrants, reasons for leaving Ukraine, and choosing Germany as the host country (based on the «push-pull» theory) are identified. Lack of language knowledge and local laws, bureaucracy, access of children to preschool institutions and their schooling, unfavourable psychological state and uncertainty about the future, recognition of acquired education, working in positions with lower qualifications, difficulties in forming new social connections - these are the main obstacles that migrants from Ukraine face in Germany on their way to adaptation and integration.

Keywords: forced migrants, social adaptation, acculturation, refugees, social needs, adaptation and integration of migrants, host society, integration policy, intercultural interaction, conflict

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Received 16.05.2024