Onward Migration of African Europeans: Comparing Attitudes to Migration Motives

Karen Haandrikman, Stockholm University
Sadia Hassanen, Multicultural Centre, Stockholm

Studies on the mobility patterns of African refugees who fled to Europe have shown that especially Somalis tend to move onward from continental Europe to the UK. African migrants have long been moving to Sweden, known for its liberal migration and naturalization policies. However, these migrants are among the least integrated in Sweden, both socially and economically. This paper aims to increase our knowledge on onward migration, both in terms of migration attitudes and actual migration motives. We compare onward migration attitudes among African Swedes in Sweden with reported migration motives of those who migrated onward to Australia. Results show that very few have definite plans to move, but most are unhappy with their socioeconomic situation and feel discriminated, though being grateful for all Sweden offered them. Those who moved onward did so in order to improve their livelihood prospects and feel more accepted and fare much better in Australia.