The role of the family for return migration, reintegration and re-emigration in Armenia

So far, the academic literature about the role of the family for return migration, reintegration and re-emigration remains scarce. This paper aims to fill this gap by taking the example of Armenian return migrants and providing an analysis of the influence of family networks on the individual’s decision-making to return, on patterns of reintegration as well as on intentions to re-emigrate. This explorative study is based on 350 structured interviews with Armenian returnees. It takes the situation before departure, the experiences abroad and the return and post-return conditions into account. In doing so, this research acknowledges the dynamic nature of migration. Besides investigating the impact of the family on emigration decisions, return motivations and reintegration circumstances, this paper examines the significance of cross-border family networks for return migrants’ plans to re-emigrate.