Between micronarratives of individual gain and macronarratives of public utility: discourses of return migration in times of crisis

Many Central and Eastern European countries recognized the benefits of migration of their citizens after the EU enlargement in 2004, such as financial remittances and obtaining education abroad. Even more advantages are expected by the sending states upon anticipated return of migrants to the countries of origin. The article will examine Polish policies of return migration in times of two crises: Brexit and the pandemic. The analysis includes macronarratives (political discourse, such as state documents, legal acts and narratives of various state representatives and authorities concerning the return of Poles) and micronarratives (stories of individuals). Interviews with over 50 Polish migrants in the UK are juxtaposed with the state narratives. On the example of Poland, the article demonstrates how the process of possible return migration is constructed, narrated, and justified in micro- and macronarratives. The narratives and political tools engaged in inducing return migration reflect the state's and the migrants' anticipations and projections about the vision of community, national belonging, and citizen's duties. The study of the micro- and macronaratives sheds light on nuanced ways in which co-agency works: that is, how social phenomena are shaped by actors who have diverse ways of looking at the problem, different (partly complementary, partly opposing) interests and motivations.