| Popis: |
The small island of Susak is located in the north of the Adriatic Sea. The inhabitants of small Mediterranean islands like Susak depend largely on the mainland and natural resources. The mass emigration of the Island population in the second half of the 20th century to the USA permanently damaged the island’s demographic sustainability, which is consequently visible even today in all aspects of its social life. Migrations of the islanders have been a part of the strategy to better their families’ living conditions as an answer to economic, social and political circumstances. Shaped over the centuries as a small, closed community, closely connected with each other, accustomed to difficult living conditions, the people of the island have created a strong sense of identity and belonging. Family and community solidarity provided emigrants with an important basis for adaptation, acculturation and success in the USA. Emigrants from the island of Susak, their family members and descendants, although not permanent residents, are considered as a part of the island community. By actively participating in the island's culture and way of life through visits and participation in cultural events (for example, Emigrants’ Day), family gatherings and similar activities, they bridge the physical separation and retain the feeling of belonging to the Island. The paper is the result of qualitative research by the method of semi- structured interviews conducted among Susak island emigrants during 2019. Research was expanded with secondary data analysis of virtual social networks and observations on social activities on the island. The paper explains: (1) the organization of life and repeated returns of emigrants to their ancestral birthplace, (2) the complexity of the emigrants' identity and relationship with the island, and the (3) possibilities and challenges of return. |
