LOCAL EFFECTS OF PEOPLE’S MASS MIGRATION MOVEMENT – KANJIŽA,SERBIA, 2015

Abstract

Mass transit migration does not occur many times in a settlement's history. For that reason,
it is important to document events, analyze processes, and to build on good and bad
experiences in the future. The paper intends to present and explore the effects of mass
transit migration of a small settlement in Serbia, Kanjiža (Magyarkanizsa), and the local
responses.
Serbia has played a very important role during the migration crisis of 2015. The
government of the country - partly because of various political reasons - sought to approach
events from a humane, solidarity and inclusive perspective, placing it in a historical
narrative.
Kanjiža was functioning as a resting area along the northern boundary of the country. The
migration had a great impact on the local political and civil life of the city. The local
community has adapted to the situation in a variety of ways, some people has seen economic
gains in refugees, others have been in a humanitarian manner, and while others have
sought to avoid the areas where refugees most often did some rest.
Through interviews and content analysis of a local newspaper, I have identified the most
important actors within the local scene, highlihthtingthe collaborations and the conflicts
between them. The central actor was the local government in both cases, forced to take
conflict situations while seeking the adequate solutions, but was also an important player
in support-based relationships.