Social integration of immigrants from big-cities-to-villages in Austria and in the Czech Republic

The article deals with prospects of social integration of immigrants from big cities to villages in Austria and in the Czech Republic. The objective is to investigate, to which extent immigrants integrate into the new communities and which factors of successful integration may be identified. The results are based on qualitative research that was conducted in the years 2003 and 2004. The analysed topic partially refers to problems of suburbanisation, however is not limited to migration to suburban communities. Bottom-line for the analysis are the subjective situation-related assessments by the immigrants themselves. The author develops two different types of motives for relocation and migration, and presents a typology of social integration of immigrants and of their relationship with villages. Finally, differences between the situation in the Czech Republic and in Austria are summarized.