Moving Citizens: Citizenship Practices among Polish Migrants in Norway and the United Kingdom

The study explores 'practiced citizenship' among Polish migrants in Oslo, Bergen, Bristol, and Sheffield, arguing that integration is a multi-layered process of 'balancing acts' between local, national, and transnational dimensions. While both countries show similar reliance on social networks for migration, the UK is perceived as more accommodating of socio-cultural diversity, whereas Polish migrants in Norway reported exclusionary experiences related to their names and a lack of trust in state institutions, specifically the child protection services. Socio-economic patterns differ by demographic, with the UK attracting more young, highly educated graduates and Norway seeing a higher proportion of skilled male construction workers. Political engagement is frequently mediated through online platforms, particularly in the UK, where some migrants view the political environment as more enabling than in Poland.

• Polish migrants in both Norway and the UK rely heavily on pre-existing social and kinship ties to initiate their move and secure housing and employment.
• There is a contrast in socio-cultural belonging: Polish migrants in the UK generally perceive 'everyday multiculturalism' as a facilitating factor, while descendants of Polish migrants in Norway report exclusionary practices based on their Polish-sounding names.
• Socio-economic migration patterns differ by destination, with the UK attracting a substantial segment of young, highly educated graduates, while Norway has a higher proportion of skilled male construction workers.
• In Norway, trust in the political system and state institutions is significantly undermined by mediatized fears regarding the child protection services [Barnevernet].
• Political engagement among Polish migrants in the UK is increasingly practiced through online platforms and informal gatherings, which some view as a way to overcome a deficit of formal political representation.
• Integration is conceptualized not as a static inclusion into a national collective, but as a processual series of 'balancing acts' between local, national, and transnational demands and commitments.

APA

Erdal, & Lewicki (2016). Moving Citizens: Citizenship Practices among Polish Migrants in Norway and the United Kingdom. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/835e4333-edf1-43fe-b3a2-4a408d08d767/Moving citizens Citizenship practices among Polish migrants in Norway and the United Kingdom.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Erdal, and Lewicki. Moving Citizens: Citizenship Practices among Polish Migrants in Norway and the United Kingdom. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2016. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/835e4333-edf1-43fe-b3a2-4a408d08d767/Moving citizens Citizenship practices among Polish migrants in Norway and the United Kingdom.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Erdal |last2=Lewicki |title=Moving Citizens: Citizenship Practices among Polish Migrants in Norway and the United Kingdom |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2016 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/835e4333-edf1-43fe-b3a2-4a408d08d767/Moving citizens Citizenship practices among Polish migrants in Norway and the United Kingdom.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{erdal2016moving, author = {Erdal and Lewicki}, title = {{Moving Citizens: Citizenship Practices among Polish Migrants in Norway and the United Kingdom}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2016}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/835e4333-edf1-43fe-b3a2-4a408d08d767/Moving citizens Citizenship practices among Polish migrants in Norway and the United Kingdom.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }