Migration to the Czech Republic: Personal Stories About Running from and Running Towards

Abstract

The chapter focuses on micro perspectives expressed in individual trajectories of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers (MRAs) in the Czech Republic. Drawing on 14 in-depth biographic interviews with MRAs, this chapter analyses biographies of labour market integration. Particular attention is given to critical moments or those critical life junctures we name turning points that generate epiphanic, life-changing experiences. This approach is inspired by Denzin's conceptualisation of epiphanies. The chapter is structured as follows. We first provide background information on barriers to labour market integration at macro-, meso-, and micro- levels. Next, the chapter introduces the methodological approach and elaborates on the process of recruitment and interviewing. We then discuss the various contexts in which turning points and epiphanic experiences were described by the interviewed migrants. More specifically, we explore the critical junctures that led our participants to the decision of migrating. Next, we focus on epiphanies related to positioning in terms of social status and professional aspirations and, finally, we look at the transformative impacts of social interactions structured by discrimination. (C) 2023, The Author(s).