For much of its modern history, Poland has been a country of emigration. However, over the past decade a discernible reversal has taken place. Increasing numbers of Poles have returned after extended periods abroad, driven by improved economic conditions in Poland and the repercussions of Brexit. Returnees frequently bring international qualifications, professional expertise, and broadened social perspectives. Yet reintegration is rarely straightforward: returnees often confront entrenched hierarchies, bureaucratic barriers, and cultural attitudes that diverge from those they encountered in host societies. Their experiences highlight both frictions and opportunities—illustrating how transnational identities intersect with local structures, and how returnees, alongside migrants and refugees, contribute to processes of innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural transformation.
In this colloquium, Ula Idzikowska will present initial findings from her research on Poland’s redefinition as a destination country, also reflecting on the ways in which political discourse has instrumentalized migration within populist rhetoric.
Ula Idzikowska is a freelance reporter currently based in Poland. She writes for Dutch- and Polish-language media, focusing on migration, social justice, the climate crisis, and the experiences of minority communities. Her work seeks to illuminate complex global issues through personal, human-centered storytelling, often highlighting resilience and individual agency. In addition to longform reporting, she experiments with narrative formats, including comic and audio storytelling. Over the past eight years, Idzikowska has reported from across Europe and the Middle East. During this time she has studied Dutch in Poland, comparative literature in Belgium, and investigative journalism in the Netherlands. A story she wrote about a Lebanese activist was shortlisted for the True Story Award in 2024, and in 2025 she received another nomination for a report from Palestine.
IWM Senior Research Fellow Taras Fedirko will moderate the discussion.
