Ovaj rad istražuje povratne migracije u Hrvatsku kroz intervjue s povratnicima i potencijalnim povratnicima. Cilj je bio razumjeti razloge povratka, izazove reintegracije te ulogu društvenih mreža, socioekonomskih čimbenika i transnacionalnih veza u odluci i pripremi za povratak. Koristeći teorije društvenih mreža i transnacionalizma, rad prepoznaje povratnike kao razvojni potencijal zbog stečenog kapitala (ljudskog, ekonomskog, kulturnog, simboličkog). Rezultati pokazuju da su uspješniji oni koji su se planski pripremali i održavali veze s domovinom. Ključni izazovi uključuju administrativne prepreke, neusklađenost kvalifikacija, kulturni šok i razočaranja. Rad predlaže modele reintegracije te preporuke za jačanje institucionalne podrške, ističući povratnu migraciju kao složen proces s pozitivnim razvojnim potencijalom za Hrvatsku.

This study investigates the social-psychological underpinnings of two related yet distinct constructs: ethnocentrism and Croatian national-minority identity. The research was motivated by the need to clarify how personality traits, ideological orientations, and social worldviews intersect to shape these constructs among Croats living in Vojvodina, Serbia. The analysis is framed within the dual-process cognitive-motivational theory of prejudice and ideology, a theoretical model that has been particularly influential in explaining attitudes toward out-groups, the emergence of prejudice, and the maintenance of political-ideological orientations. The central premise of this investigation is that the Croatian community in Vojvodina represents a minority whose identity has been historically molded by political pressures, assimilation processes, and cultural preservation efforts. Ethnocentrism, understood as loyalty to and preference for one’s own group, and Croatian national-minority identity, which emphasizes political and cultural rights as well as symbolic ties to the homeland, are both salient to this community. Although positively correlated, these constructs are not synonymous. Understanding their convergence and divergence requires an in-depth examination of dispositional traits and ideological frameworks. The dual-process model posits that individual differences in prejudice and ideology are best explained by the interplay of personality traits, social worldviews, and ideological attitudes. While this model has traditionally relied on the Big Five personality dimensions, the present study innovatively integrates the Dark Triad - Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy given their relevance to socially aversive behavior. Religiosity was additionally introduced as a predictor variable, reflecting its long-standing significance as a cultural marker and socializing force within the Croatian minority community, where Roman Catholicism has historically served as a central identity anchor. The declared Croats in Vojvodina are predominantly Roman Catholic (90% – Census, 2022), and this affiliation has historically represented a central component of their collective identity, which continues to be significant in the present. This aligns with our research sample, in which 97% of the respondents reported belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. In the context of a challenging political climate (they obtained official recognition of their status as a national-minority community in 2002), the absence of systematic organizational opportunities, and the lack of national-minority associations, the Roman Catholic Church has functioned as the primary institution for religious, cultural, and national-minority activities. The empirical analysis was based on a convenience sample of 189 adult respondents of Croatian nationality from different settlements across Vojvodina. Participants completed validated instruments measuring the Dark Triad traits, social worldviews (dangerous worldview and competitive-jungle worldview), ideological attitudes (right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation), religiosity, ethnocentrism, and Croatian national-minority identity. Hierarchical regression analysis was employed to evaluate the predictive contributions of these variables. The models accounted for 40% of the variance in ethnocentrism and 21% of the variance in minority identity, indicating robust but distinct explanatory mechanisms. Ethnocentrism was predicted by Machiavellianism and narcissism, alongside right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and religiosity. This constellation of predictors suggests that individuals characterized by manipulativeness, self-centeredness, authoritarianism, and hierarchical social beliefs are more inclined toward ethnocentric attitudes. Religiosity, while often associated with moral guidance, here appears to reinforce in-group boundaries and intensify loyalty to one’s ethnic group. Collectively, these factors reflect a psychological profile marked by defensive aggression, a preference for conformity, and the use of group identity as a vehicle for securing both belonging and perceived superiority. Croatian national-minority identity displayed a partially different profile. Machiavellianism again emerged as a positive predictor, whereas psychopathy exerted a negative effect, indicating that strategic but not antisocial traits are conducive to minority identity formation. In addition, dangerous worldview, right-wing authoritarianism, and religiosity were all significant predictors. These results suggest that Croatian minority identity is less associated with aggression or dominance and more aligned with defensive orientations rooted in perceived threats, a drive for cohesion, and reliance on cultural and religious traditions as integrative elements. The absence of psychopathy emphasizes that this identity is not driven by impulsivity or antisocial behavior, but rather by organized, goal-directed strategies of cultural preservation. The presence of Machiavellianism as a predictor of both constructs points to a nuanced dynamic. Although manipulative interpersonal styles are generally regarded as socially aversive, in minority contexts, they may serve adaptive purposes by enabling individuals to navigate interethnic complexities, advocate for collective interests, and safeguard cultural continuity. Conversely, the negative association between psychopathy and minority identity indicates that destructive, antisocial tendencies erode rather than strengthen collective identity. Despite their differences, ethnocentrism and minority identity were found to be substantially correlated, a relationship largely explained by their shared predictors, Machiavellianism, right-wing authoritarianism, and religiosity. This overlap highlights common dispositional and ideological foundations, even though the broader psychological architecture of each construct diverges. Ethnocentrism is more closely tied to prejudice and exclusionary attitudes, while Croatian minority identity is more firmly rooted in ideological defense, social cohesion, and cultural perseverance. From a theoretical standpoint, the findings partly affirm the assumptions of the dual-process model. Ethnocentrism conforms to the model’s predictions, being strongly linked to aversive traits and authoritarian orientations. Minority identity, however, does not align as neatly, as it is less associated with competitive worldviews or overtly aggressive tendencies and more with defensive worldviews and religiosity. This suggests that the dual-process model remains valuable but requires adaptation to capture the nuances of minority identity in contexts where religion and cultural survival are central. Methodologically, the study demonstrates the flexibility of the dual-process model by successfully incorporating the Dark Triad. This integration broadens the explanatory scope of the model, illustrating that socially disruptive traits play a crucial role in shaping both prejudice and identity. The inclusion of religiosity further underscores its importance as both a cultural anchor and a psychological orientation influencing intergroup attitudes. The implications of the study extend beyond theory. Distinguishing between ethnocentrism and minority identity is vital for both academic and policy discussions. While positively correlated, these constructs embody different psychological logics: ethnocentrism is rooted in exclusionary hostility, whereas minority identity reflects adaptive strategies for cohesion and defense. Policies that strengthen minority identity through cultural autonomy, education, and constructive religiosity - need not reinforce ethnocentric tendencies. Instead, carefully designed interventions can promote identity while mitigating such prejudice. The findings also shed light on the role of personality traits in intergroup relations. The positive contribution of Machiavellianism to both constructs suggests that certain manipulative traits may have functional value in minority contexts. At the same time, the negative impact of psychopathy highlights the need to distinguish between strategic behaviors that facilitate group advocacy and antisocial tendencies that undermine cohesion. This differentiation has important implications for understanding leadership and activism within minority communities. Religiosity emerges as a particularly complex factor. It serves simultaneously as a unifying force within the minority community and as a marker of group boundaries vis-à-vis the majority. For the Croatian community in Vojvodina, Catholicism has long provided cultural continuity amid the political instability and demographic decline. The dual role of religiosity, as both integrative and divisive, must therefore be carefully considered in analyses of minority identity and intergroup relations. The study is not without limitations. The reliance on a convenience sample restricts the generalizability of the results, and the cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Additionally, the exclusive focus on one minority group necessitates caution when extrapolating to other contexts. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs, conduct cross-group comparisons, and consider the influence of alternative religious and cultural traditions to test the generalizability of these findings. In sum, this research enhances our understanding of ethnocentrism and Croatian national-minority identity by embedding them within the dual-process cognitive-motivational framework and extending the model to include the Dark Triad and religiosity. The results reveal both overlap and divergence: while the two constructs share certain dispositional and ideological predictors, their psychological foundations differ in important ways. Ethnocentrism reflects hostility, authoritarianism, and hierarchical dominance, whereas minority identity embodies defensiveness, cohesion, and cultural perseverance. These findings contribute to theoretical refinement and offer practical insights into fostering intergroup tolerance and supporting minority communities in multicultural societies.

Ovaj rad istražuje povratne migracije u Hrvatsku kroz intervjue s povratnicima i potencijalnim povratnicima. Cilj je bio razumjeti razloge povratka, izazove reintegracije te ulogu društvenih mreža, socioekonomskih čimbenika i transnacionalnih veza u odluci i pripremi za povratak. Koristeći teorije društvenih mreža i transnacionalizma, rad prepoznaje povratnike kao razvojni potencijal zbog stečenog kapitala (ljudskog, ekonomskog, kulturnog, simboličkog). Rezultati pokazuju da su uspješniji oni koji su se planski pripremali i održavali veze s domovinom. Ključni izazovi uključuju administrativne prepreke, neusklađenost kvalifikacija, kulturni šok i razočaranja. Rad predlaže modele reintegracije te preporuke za jačanje institucionalne podrške, ističući povratnu migraciju kao složen proces s pozitivnim razvojnim potencijalom za Hrvatsku.

U članku se upućuje na važnost nekih aspekata polustoljetne modernizacije u Hrvatskoj (1945. – 1990.) koja je donijela industrijsku transformaciju države i promjenu strukture stanovništva. Cilj je pokazati utjecaj javnih politika, tj. racionalizacije odlučivanja na primjerima modernizacijskih procesa u stambenim i komunalnim politikama. Paternalistička uloga države s jasnim nedostatkom pluralnosti bila je vidljiva u svakom segmentu gospodarskoga, političkoga i društvenoga života. Mjere za brzu gospodarsku i socijalnu transformaciju društva započele su još tijekom rata. Velike državne intervencije bile su naglašene u industrijalizaciji i urbanizaciji, koje su pratile migracije radne snage iz ruralnih u urbana područja. Zbog velikoga broja novih stanovnika gradova vlasti su posvećivale veliku pozornost stambenim i komunalnim politikama. Istovremeno ovaj rad smjera upozoriti na segmente političkoga odlučivanja koji do sada nisu bili promatrani kroz dimenziju javnih politika na primjeru nekih aspekata modernizacije urbanoga života u Hrvatskoj. U zaključku se upućuje na mogući interdisciplinarni okvir istraživanja problema javnih politika u povijesnoj dimenziji.

The paper focuses on the period of socialist modernization in Croatian urban settings, in a country guided by ideologically shaped administrative measures, absence of social pluralism, and private economic initiatives. The socialist regime mainly promoted the announced transformation of social and economic relations, as well as technical progress, in the urban areas, where cultural and symbolic interventions took place along with the technical ones. The socialist city was to become an ideal city that met all the needs of the “working people”. Industrialization and urbanization caused labour migration from rural to urban areas. Due to the large number of new residents in the cities, the authorities paid much attention to housing policies. Accelerated construction resulted in a discrepancy with the existing urban and communal infrastructure. The consequences of half a century of socialist modernization in the cities were most evident in the altered population structure. At the beginning of the observed period, only one quarter of the population lived in cities, but when the socialist epoch ended, this ratio was over 50 %. The negative consequences of socialist modernization in the cities could be seen in the polarized development of the main urban centres, the unevenly developed network of medium-sized and small towns, and the depopulation of a significant part of rural areas.

This paper reflects on social theories of ageing and their relation toward the institution of retirement. Social changes analysed signify the changes in relationship between society and individuals during the process of their aging. These changes are seen through different levels of activity, interaction and roles older people play in the society. Authors show to what extent is the construction of age and the institution of retirement under influence of economical, structural and cultural aspects of a specific society. In so doing, they support a modified concept of age which in modern society becomes more complex, equally due to longer life expectancy and changes in lifestyle. Retirement itself is approached to as an institution, process and experience with emphasis placed on the context which shapes it. There is a widely spread myth of unproductivity and inactivity of older people upon retirement, i.e. leaving the labour market, which frequently represents a basis for their social exclusion and marginalization. Opposing this, the authors present theoretical approaches and results of empirical researches that deal with the concept of productive ageing, preserving and (or) developing certain activities in older age with aim to maintain an active life style. The concept of productive ageing subsumes the multiple contributions of older individuals to their personal wellbeing as well as that of their communities and society as a whole.

This paper is result of research on the specificities of migration and their influence on the aging of women in particular island surroundings as well as on the causes and social consequences of these processes. It also discusses certain domains of the quality of life valued by the elderly. In addition to providing a theoretical overview, the authors present data collected by methods of secondary data analysis, and observation and semi-structured interviews in an effort to provide insight into aging on the Croatian islands from a gender standpoint. The qualitative data used were collected during several researches carried out from 2003 to 2013 within the project entitled “The influence of migrations on the regional development of Croatia”. The analysis focuses mainly on the experience of elderly women who live in small island communities, defined on the basis of similar economic, social and psychological parameters regardless of the island size. The data presented in this paper indicate that the aging of women on the islands and the quality of their life in later years are dependent on a number of factors – personal or family member (non)involvement in migration, size of the community in which they live, degree of island isolation, quality of existing infrastructure, personal health, degree of participation in social life etc. Additionally, notwithstanding their individual specific life cycle or the island on which they reside, a high level of activity into very old age is a common denominator for elderly island women. In conclusion, due to current demographic trends, the authors expect the continuation of the process of population aging on the Croatian islands, increase in the number of predominantly female single households and continuation of equality in the division of roles between island males and females outside the home, with concurrent maintaining of “female roles” in the home and in caring for the elderly (professionally or volunteer), which will strengthen some quality of life related issues for the inhabitants of small island communities.

This paper is result of research on the specificities of migration and their influence on the aging of women in particular island surroundings as well as on the causes and social consequences of these processes. It also discusses certain domains of the quality of life valued by the elderly. In addition to providing a theoretical overview, the authors present data collected by methods of secondary data analysis, and observation and semi-structured interviews in an effort to provide insight into aging on the Croatian islands from a gender standpoint. The qualitative data used were collected during several researches carried out from 2003 to 2013 within the project entitled “The influence of migrations on the regional development of Croatia”. The analysis focuses mainly on the experience of elderly women who live in small island communities, defined on the basis of similar economic, social and psychological parameters regardless of the island size. The data presented in this paper indicate that the aging of women on the islands and the quality of their life in later years are dependent on a number of factors – personal or family member (non)involvement in migration, size of the community in which they live, degree of island isolation, quality of existing infrastructure, personal health, degree of participation in social life etc. Additionally, notwithstanding their individual specific life cycle or the island on which they reside, a high level of activity into very old age is a common denominator for elderly island women. In conclusion, due to current demographic trends, the authors expect the continuation of the process of population aging on the Croatian islands, increase in the number of predominantly female single households and continuation of equality in the division of roles between island males and females outside the home, with concurrent maintaining of “female roles” in the home and in caring for the elderly (professionally or volunteer), which will strengthen some quality of life related issues for the inhabitants of small island communities.

Stanovnistvo europskih zemalja, osobito zemalja Europske unije, sve je starije te se predviđa nastavak toga trenda. Starenje stanovnistva prati i sve veci broj ljudi koji sve duže razdoblje svojega života žive u statusu umirovljenika. Danas se razdoblje mirovine smatra sastavnim dijelom života u vecini modernih drustava. Razvoj institucije umirovljenja i zdravstvenog osiguranja omogucio je da dio starijih osoba napusti mjesta koja su nastanjivali desetljecima i presele u udaljene krajeve s poželjnim okolisem i klimom te da realiziraju alternativne životne stilove. Rast broja umirovljenika u visokorazvijenim drustvima s njihovim raspoloživim slobodnim vremenom i potrosackom moci utjece i na međunarodne migracijske tokove. Sukladno rastu u ukupnoj populaciji, među suvremenim međunarodnim migrantima broj starijih i umirovljenih osoba također znacajno raste. Hrvatski otoci i priobalje postaju sve interesantniji nehrvatskim državljanima koji su u potrazi za novim destinacijama, drugacijima od Spanjolske, Portugala, Francuske, Malte, Italije ili Grcke. Pretpostavka je da ce clanstvo Hrvatske u Europskoj uniji pozitivno djelovati na dio inozemnih umirovljenika pri izboru odredista za preseljenje u starijoj životnoj dobi. Stranim državljanima pridružuje se znacajan broj umirovljenih povratnika hrvatskih državljana, koji su desetljecima radili u zapadnoeuropskim i sjevernoeuropskim zemljama. Iako su razmjeri migracija starijih i umirovljenih osoba u Hrvatsku jos relativno mali, za razliku od onih u drugim europskim mediteranskim zemljama, namece se potreba promisljanja politike prema starijim migrantima na podrucju ostvarivanja socijalnih prava i zdravstva te se otvara niz pitanja koja se ticu socijalne okoline u kojoj bi boravili. Umirovljenicke migracije su popularan koncept iako nedovoljno razrađen i viseznacno definiran. Cilj teorijskog dijela rada jest utvrditi relevantne elemente za umirovljenicke migracije te teorijsku i empirijsku relevantnost koncepta međunarodnih umirovljenickih migracija u objasnjavanju novih migracijskih fenomena. Zbog uske povezanosti migracija u starijoj životnoj dobi s klimatskim, zdravstvenim, migracijama životnih stilova (lifstyle migration), migracijama ugodnosti (amenity migration) te njihova međusobnog ispreplitanja tesko je umirovljenicke migracije odrediti kao jedinstven koncept. Zbog nepostojanja jasnih i cvrstih međusobnih granica u navedenim oblicima migracija odlucili smo se u radu koristiti sirokim pojmom umirovljenicke migracije koji obuhvaca i neke migracijske prakse ukljucene pod raznim drugim teorijskim konceptima. Postoji snažna veza između stopa migracija i pocetnih faza umirovljenja pa cemo se u ovom radu ograniciti na kriterij umirovljenja. Zajednicka karakteristika koja povezuje sve migrante temeljem ovog kriterija, a koje smo analizirali za potrebe istraživanja i rasprave u ovom radu (umirovljenickih migracija na hrvatskim otocima) su umirovljenicki status, životne promjene i tranzicija, posebne destinacije koje odabiru i karakteristike destinacija koje ih privlace (klima, ocuvanost okolisa, kulturne i prirodne znamenitosti, sigurnost). Kvalitativna metodologija u ovom je istraživanju odabrana prije svega zbog specificnosti ciljane populacije (umirovljenika migranata). Istraživanje je provedeno metodom intervjua. Upotrijebili smo polustrukturirane intervjue koji su vođeni s unaprijed definiranim temama razgovora bez hijerarhijski određenog redoslijeda pitanja. Uzorak istraživanja bio je namjerni, a ispitanici su birani metodom „grude snijega“. Nakon Uvoda u kojem smo obrazložili temu, predmet, hipoteze i ciljeve istraživanja slijedi teorijsko-konceptualni dio rada. Teorijsko-konceptualni dio rada zapocinje s drugim poglavljem Starenje populacije i posljedice starenja, u kojem ce se starenje smjestiti u drustveni kontekst razmatrajuci ga kao socijalnu kategoriju u smislu drustvenog konstruktivizma. Istražit ce se konstruiranje dobi i starosti pod utjecajem gospodarskih, strukturnih i kulturnih cimbenika. Proces starenja je usko povezan s institucionalizacijom umirovljenja, proces o kojem se razmatra u poglavlju (3) naslovljenim Umirovljenje. Cilj ovog poglavlja je definirati umirovljenje kao koncept, istražiti umirovljenje kao instituciju, kao proces i kao iskustvo, odnosno prilagodba na mirovinu, s naglaskom na složenost konteksta koji ga oblikuje. S obzirom na predmet istraživanja rada – umirovljenicke migracije, u ovom poglavlju cemo detaljno objasniti nastanak i razvoj institucije umirovljenja te procese prilagodbe na umirovljenje koji su kljucni za razvoj specificnih uvjeta koji omogucuju objasnjenje nastanka umirovljenickih migracija. Prije razmatranja koncepta umirovljenickih migracija u cetvrtom poglavlju, Migracije u starijoj životnoj dobi, daje se prikaz povijesnog i drustvenog konteksta migracije u starijoj dobi. Odrednice i prostorni obrasci migracija starijih osoba razlikuju se od migracija ljudi u radnoj dobi. Danasnje umirovljenike, onaj dio koji posjeduje ekonomske resurse i cije zdravlje to omogucuje, pokrecu potrosacki motivi dok su kod povratnih umirovljenickih migracija pokretacki motivi jos i emotivni i nostalgicni odnosi prema mjestu podrijetla. Navedeno predstavlja uvod u razmatranje modela migracijske odluke, osobnih veza umirovljenika i odluka o migriranju. U analizi i sintezi literature o umirovljenickim migracijama naglasak je na teorijskim doprinosima autora i autorica koji se izlažu pojedinacno i sumarno kritici prema naznacenim konceptima i pristupima. Peto poglavlje Turizam i migracije je daljnja analiza cimbenika koji su utjecali na razvoj umirovljenickih migracija. Izdvaja se turizam koji se u migracijskim istraživanjima uglavnom analizirao u kontekstu informiranja potencijalnih migranata i u procesu donosenja odluke o umirovljenickoj migraciji. Jedna od vecih promjena suvremenog turizma je razvoj inozemnog sekundarnog stanovanja, pojava koja je pogodovala sirenju fenomena umirovljenickih migracija o cemu se raspravlja u sestom poglavlju, Drugi dom. U analizi uloge drugog doma naglasak je na emocionalnim vezama s mjestom življenja. Posjedovanje drugog doma smatra se važnim korakom prema stalnoj ili sezonskoj umirovljenickoj migraciji. Sedmo poglavlje, Sloboda kretanja u pravu Europske unije i umirovljenicke migracije, donosi kratak prikaz pravne osnove slobode kretanja u Europskoj uniji državljana država clanica, ukljucujuci i socijalna prava koja se mogu koristiti u državama clanicama. Naglasak je na prirodi umirovljenickih migracija koje cesto ukljucuje život na dvije ili vise lokacija i ostvarivanju prava nastanjivanja državljana država clanica, a koja proistjeci iz Ugovora o zajamcenoj slobodi kretanja unutar Europske unije. Obzirom na tematsko podrucje ovog rada, i zadani prostorni obuhvat (hrvatski otoci) u osmom poglavlju, Otoci kao fizicki i drustveni prostor, govori se o otocima kao fizickom i specificnom drustvenom prostoru. Cilj ovoga poglavlja je objasniti prostor u kojem se te migracije odvijaju i njegove prirodne i drustvene karakteristike. U devetom poglavlju, Metodologija istraživanja, opisuju se razlozi za odabir kvalitativne metodologije u istraživanju. Slijedi opis metodologije istraživanja, istraživackih postupaka, osobine uzorka, odaziva ispitanika i ogranicenja istraživanja. U desetom su poglavlju, Rezultati istraživanja, prezentirani rezultati provedenog empirijskog istraživanja. Zakljucak, jedanaesto poglavlje, donosi sažeti prikaz rezultata te se daju preporuke za daljnja istraživanja umirovljenickih migracija na osnovi provedenog istraživanja.